News story

Salisbury Plain area development masterplan

The Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) has published its latest development plans for the Salisbury Plain area.

• From: Defence Infrastructure Organisation
• Published: 21 May 2014

Soldiers train on Salisbury Plain (library image)

The plans have been drawn up following a public consultation exercise held between 19 February and 1 April 2014.

People can view the masterplan document online, and in person at Salisbury, Tidworth, Ludgershall, Amesbury and Durrington libraries. Opening hours are available on the Wiltshire Council website.

DIO will present the content of the masterplan at a public meeting on 28 May 2014 at the Tidworth Garrison Theatre. Representatives from Wiltshire Council and the army will also be available to answer any questions.

The masterplan sets out development proposals in support of plans to relocate an additional 4,300 military personnel and their families to the Salisbury Plain area. The plan will be available to view until 17 June 2014.

The masterplan details proposals for delivering the additional infrastructure required by the army in the Salisbury Plain area, which will include:

• up to 1,300 new homes for service families

• new accommodation blocks for single soldiers

• construction and conversion of other buildings, such as garages, armouries, offices and mess facilities

• future plans for the training estate

All intended developments will be subject to the normal planning application process and environmental assessments. These will be submitted once the proposals have been finalised and all internal Ministry of Defence approvals have been given.

Throughout the masterplan process DIO is working with Wiltshire Council to help ensure the right level of services and facilities, and that healthcare and education provision are in place in time for the relocation of service personnel and their families.

Soldiers exercise in Challenger 2 tanks on Salisbury Plain (library image) [Picture: Iain Hamer, Crown copyright]

After reviewing over 300 comments received during the public consultation period, DIO has updated the masterplan to take account of this feedback. A statement of community involvement outlines all comments received during the consultation and demonstrates how they have been considered in drawing up the document. This will be published alongside the masterplan.

There has been particular interest around the proposals for new living accommodation at Larkhill, where the plan is to provide some 540 additional homes for service families and garage facilities. These proposals do not include any development that will negatively impact the Stonehenge World Heritage Site. They maintain the DIO’s strong commitment to preserving the historic environment within the MOD estate.

David Underhill, DIO’s head of basing programme delivery, said:

We’d like to thank everyone who submitted their comments during the public consultation. We value the views of all interested parties and have carefully considered all comments in forming the latest version of the masterplan.

DIO’s priority is to support our armed forces by providing the facilities they need to live, work, train and deploy. We will continue to engage with local people, businesses and organisations to ensure our plans foster strong military and civilian communities and encourage integration.

Colonel Neill Page, deputy team leader of the army basing team, said:

The relocation of an extra 4,300 service personnel and their families to the Salisbury Plain area is a huge undertaking. We will continue to work closely with Wiltshire Council, local councils, statutory bodies and local service providers to ensure that they can settle and integrate within the local communities as quickly and seamlessly as possible, and that they have the necessary facilities and infrastructure to enable them to live, work, train and deploy.

DIO will submit the final masterplan to Wiltshire Council’s strategic planning committee in July 2014.

Published 21 May 2014