News story

MOD secures trio of planning approvals

MOD has secured 3 major planning approvals that will allow the sale of surplus military facilities in the south of England.

• From: Ministry of Defence and Defence Infrastructure Organisation
• Published: 13 August 2013

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

Aldershot Urban Extension site (library image)

The sales will support our Armed Forces and release land to provide over 5,000 much-needed civilian homes.

The Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO), part of the Ministry of Defence, required just 4 weeks to pull together the results of many months of hard work and gain the approvals for a range of sites in the south of England:

• Worthy Down in Hampshire
• Princess Royal Barracks (PRB) at Deepcut in Surrey
• land in Aldershot, known as the Aldershot Urban Extension

The planning success allows DIO to release obsolete areas for civilian homes development and contributes to the government’s Plan for Growth national housing strategy.

Martin Lloyd, DIO Head of Disposals South, said:

DIO’s priority is to support our Armed Forces as they live, work and train. Securing 3 major approvals close together represents an enormous effort by our staff and their advisors. I am delighted with our success in moving these projects forward.

The Deepcut and Worthy Down approvals will enable bidders to submit better bids, whilst the Aldershot approval takes this project to the next phase which will deliver housing in accordance with the government’s housing agenda.

Winchester City Council unanimously granted approval to DIO’s outline planning application for redevelopment of Worthy Down as a modern fit-for-purpose training college for the Defence College of Logistics and Personnel Administration. DIO is currently awaiting final bids for an industry partner to construct the new college campus at the site and also to develop and sell the PRB at Deepcut.

Princess Royal Barracks at Deepcut (library image) [Picture: Mike Weston, Crown copyright]

Surrey Heath Borough Council approved a hybrid planning application for PRB consisting of an outline application and a detailed application for converting some buildings. This sought approval for 1,200 dwellings, as well as a school, local shop, highway improvements and community facilities. DIO plans to select and contract the preferred bidder in early 2014.

Rushmoor Borough Council unanimously granted planning consent for redevelopment at the Aldershot Urban Extension. Also a hybrid application, it sought approval for 3,850 homes, 2 schools, local shops, employment uses, highway improvements, public open space and community facilities.

The first phase will see 228 homes built, with the first families moving in by summer 2014. Grainger plc is DIO’s appointed development partner.

Published 13 August 2013