In message

, at 15:50:00 on Tue, 4 Mar 2014, Recliner
remarked:
You might not have noticed, but HMG are doing a fair bit of selling off
of property that's deemed no longer necessary.

Indeed, and apart from the sale proceeds, the activities involved in
constructing and occupying the new building will presumably generate
on-going tax proceeds (business rates, council tax, VAT, income tax,
corporation tax, etc). It will also provide more homes, though probably not
exactly "affordable" ones. Had it stayed in MoD ownership, it would have
needed maintenance and not generated any income.

I was suggesting a museum, which would not have required ongoing
MOD-funded maintenance; and would generate on-going proceeds from the
conversion and subsequent visitors as well.
--
Roland Perry