THE FORMER Royal Navy Training Base HMS Forest Moor is to be converted into a residential school for children and teenagers with special educational needs.

North Yorkshire County Council has bought the 20 acre site near Harrogate from Defence Estates, which manages the Ministry of Defence’s estate, for £4.7 million.

David Powell, assistant director at Drivers Jonas Deloitte in Leeds, who advised Defence Estates on the sale, said: “While it is a fairly unique property, HMS Forest Moor attracted a great deal of interest from a variety of potential occupiers. In the end it was the county council, with the necessary requirement and vision, which was in the best position to take the site forward.”