NORTON Manor camp near Bishops Lydeard is earmarked to close as one of 91 sites to be sold, the Ministry of Defence announced on Tuesday.

In the most significant update to defence land since World War Two, Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said it would be selling the sites – seven of them in the South West – to invest over £4 billion across the UK to create a more efficient, modern and capability-focused defence estate.

This includes Norton Manor which has been home to 40 Commando, Royal Marines since 1983, providing everything from accommodation to a medical centre and shops, with free transport for children to local state schools for the Marines and their families.

The estimated date for disposal of the site, which has 710 military and 15 civilian personnel, will not be until 2028.

The Commando is a light infantry unit under 3 Commando Brigade, who deploy worldwide as required in support of operations.

No final decisions have yet been made on where they and their families will be relocated, and further detailed studies will be undertaken.

But the intention is to create an Amphibious Centre of Specialisation based around Devonport and to cluster naval training establishments and accommodation centres.

These will be around main operating base areas in the Plymouth / Torpoint area at Her Majesty’s Naval Base, Devonport (HMNB Devonport), and HMS Raleigh, the largest Royal Navy training establishment in the South West.

Every penny raised from the 91 site sales will be reinvested back into defence, creating areas of military expertise in specific locations around the country, with better facilities to train the armed forces and deliver more stability for military families, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) said.

“It is essential for the Royal Marines to have efficient and fit for purpose facilities and accommodation that provides the right future support for a modern fighting force,” it said.

Full support and guidance will be provided to families for relocation and, where possible, the Memorial Garden for the marines’ 14 colleagues who lost their lives in a six-month tour of Afghanistan in 2010 will be relocated with the unit, in consultation with the wishes of families and veterans.

The MOD said the local authority, Taunton Deane Borough Council, had been made aware of the situation and there was scope for housing units at the site. The Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) will work closely with the authority and others to consider the best possible future uses for the site.

Civilian staff whose posts are considered surplus will be placed in a redeployment pool, and there will be formal trades union consultation well in advance of any closure.