AFTER years of speculation the Ministry of Defence has revealed it plans to sell off Fort Southwick to the highest bidder.

The MoD has confirmed they have no frther use for the site that has been left vacant for several years.

A spokesman for Defence Estates told the Daily Echo that it was planned to release Fort Southwick for sale shortly.

It has been decided that the fort is surplus to requirement and will be sold by tender.

The move has raised fears the rich heritage of the fort could be lost if it is sold to a private company.

Hampshire County Council has already ruled itself out of the running to purchase the fort despite previously suggesting it would.

A report to the council in 1997 highlighted the importance of the fort to the country's defence history and recommended it be bought to preserve it when the MoD put the site on the market.

However, a spokesman for the council said that option had become impossible, given recent budget cutbacks and therefore the county "would not be expressing an interest".

A Bible-training college has already thrown its hat into the ring to purchase the fort by submitting a sealed bid to the MoD.

The Christ for the Nations college is based at Eastbourne, East Sussex, but is keen to branch out along the south coast.

A spokesman for the organisation said: "We think that the fort is ideal for our needs. It is a very impressive building and one that we are hoping will become our new home.

"We are an inter-denomination organisation and are keen to set up the college at the fort."

They have already submitted a planning application to convert the site - subject to a successful bid - into a centre dedicated to the study of theology.

The proposal also includes plans for a heritage museum on site to showcase the history of the fort that is one of four along the top of Portsdown Hill.