St George’s Barracks high-level masterplan briefing
Agenda (1) Introduction and background (2) Importance of growth to Rutland (3) Partnership with MOD (4) Vision for St George’s Barracks (5) Proposals (6) Infrastructure (7) Character, transport, environment (8) Minerals extraction (9) Local plan (10) Project lifespan and timetable (11) Community engagement and communications (12) Response to current queries and issues
Introduction • The Ministry of Defence and Rutland County Council will be launching a high-level masterplan programme from May 11 th which sets out early ideas for what development may be possible on the St George’s Barracks site near North Luffenham once the land becomes vacant from 2020/21 • There will be county-wide consultation, the aim of which is to involve and engage as many people as possible in the process
Background • The 300-hectare site is earmarked for closure in 2020/21 as part of MOD’s Better Defence Estates review • The MOD has set a target to build 55,000 homes on relinquished sites within the term of this Parliament • RCC has entered a partnership with MOD because we want to ensure that development happens in a controlled way and contributes to the investment that Rutland needs in affordable houses, infrastructure and public services
Why is Growth important? • Rutland needs controlled growth to protect, preserve and enhance our quality of life • Rutland has a growing older population while many young families can’t afford to live here • If we don’t support growth that attracts young families we risk losing public services that make our rural community viable, such as community schools, transport links and healthcare • We want to ensure that the sons and daughters of people living here can bring up their own families in Rutland which is why there is a focus on delivering as many affordable homes as possible
Partnership (MOU) with MOD • A unique approach which recognises importance of St George’s Barracks to Rutland • Clearly sets out how our partnership will work and what we aim to achieve • Means the MOD can capitalise on the value of the site as required under HM Treasury rules • Ensures Council can deliver genuinely sustainable development for what is a highly desirable location • Secures the best possible outcome for St George’s site, local communities and the county as a whole
Our shared vision Sustainable mixed-use, community with four zones: 1. A new ‘Garden village’ 2. Business zone 3. Leisure and recreation 4. Minerals extraction • Long term project with phased development over 10-15 years • Detailed plans for each phase/area of the site and supporting infrastructure in place first
Proposals • Up to 3,000 homes to meet a range of different needs • New local centre with shops and community facilities • 14 hectares of employment • Health and wellbeing centre • Extensive open space (60%) • Buffer zone separating existing villages • New country park
Proposals • Heritage zone around the listed THOR Missile launch pads • Interim/meanwhile uses on a Mineral Extraction area – this may take the form of agriculture, open space, glamping or a renewable energy uses – such as a solar farm
Why 3,000 homes? • There is a national housing crisis – too few houses are being built to keep pace with population growth • At the 2017 General Election all major parties had manifesto commitments to build between 200,000 - 300,000 homes per annum – the recent average has been 160,000 per annum • MOD has its own 55,000 house building target • National planning policy requires councils to support growth and redevelopment of brownfield land
Infrastructure • A £2.3bn Housing Infrastructure Fund is dedicated to supporting new and existing communities • RCC’s bid for investment from this fund is through to the final stages • Project is frontloaded to ensure that the infrastructure needs are identified and met before the site is occupied, with a focus on highways , transport, utilities , broadband , community facilities and health provision
Character • The identity of the areas will be drawn from the character of Rutland, using local materials to form a community of enduring quality • This will also be true of the wider landscape with extensive open space, a well defined cycling network and parking that meets Rutland’s existing standards as a minimum
Public transport • It will be designed to accommodate high quality public transport services • This could see improved frequency of the No 12 service between Uppingham and Stamford and improved linkage with the No. 9 service between Oakham
Environment and heritage • Ecological surveys have show that land in development areas has little biodiversity value • Areas of wildlife would be respected in non-developed areas – for example the airfield has been shown to be important for breeding birds – for this reason the airfield has been assessed as being of value to the county.
Minerals extraction • There is an unknown quantity of minerals on the eastern part of the site which will not be developed for some time • The extraction of minerals is not likely to begin for ten years – the area identified as a heritage zone around the Thor Missile launch pads site will be excluded from minerals extraction
RCC’s Local Plan • A new Local Plan is being prepared to replace adopted documents to help guide future development • Consideration needs to be given in the Local Plan for how housing, employment and social development needs for the county as a whole • Consultation on changes to the existing Local Plan will take place this summer
Project lifespan • The project spans 10-15 years after St George’s Barracks closes in 2020/2021 • Master planning between MOD and the Council will cover whole life of the project: before, during and after minerals extraction • Phasing and incremental development of the site, with community facilities prioritised Summer 2018 2019 2020 2020/21 2021/22 High-level Detailed Outline planning Demolition and Development masterplan masterplan application decontamination begins in a of the site phased way
Engaging the community • We are involving and engaging the community at the earliest possible point – stakeholder and focus groups with local residents and Parish Councils occurred between September 2017 and January 2018 • High-level masterplan engagement will take place over a 3-week period, including an exhibition at Oakham library (from May 14), stakeholder session and a community drop-in at Victoria Hall and a series of Parish drop-ins and Parish Council forum sessions
Engagement timetable SESSION WHEN TIME WHERE FRIDAY 11TH MAY Victoria Hall, Oakham OAKHAM OPEN EXHIBITION 3:00 – 7:00 PM 2018 39 High Street, Oakham SATURDAY 12TH MAY Victoria Hall, Oakham OAKHAM OPEN EXHIBITION 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM 2018 39 High Street, Oakham NORTH LUFFENHAM St Mary’s and St John’s School, North WEDNESDAY 16TH PRESENTATION AND DROP IN 6:30 – 9:00 PM Luffenham MAY 2018 SESSION Church Street, North Luffenham THURSDAY 17TH MAY Uppingham Town Hall UPPINGHAM DROP IN SESSION 2:00 – 8:00 PM 2018 49 High Street East, Uppingham EDITH WESTON PRESENTATION WEDNESDAY 23RD Edith Weston Village Hall 6:30 – 9:00 PM AND DROP IN SESSION MAY 2018 1 Rectory Lane, Edith Weston THURSDAY 24TH MAY The Audit Hall, Empingham EMPINGHAM DROP IN SESSION 6:30 – 8:30 PM 2018 Empingham, Rutland LE15 8PH WEDNESDAY 30TH Victoria Hall, Oakham OAKHAM DROP IN SESSION 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM MAY 2018 39 High Street, Oakham WEDNESDAY 30TH Ketton Library KETTON DROP IN SESSION 2:00 – 8:00 PM MAY 2018 67 High Street, Ketton MONDAY 4TH JUNE Manton Village Hall MANTON DROP IN SESSION 4:00 – 8:00 PM 2018 Priory Rd, Manton, Oakham LE15 8SU TUESDAY 5TH JUNE Ketton Library KETTON DROP IN SESSION 2:00 – 6:00 PM 2018 67 High Street, Ketton
Communications • New website/information hub will be launched on May 11th at www.stgeorgesrutland.co.uk • Leaflets and posters • Stakeholder briefings • Press releases and media briefings • Social media and video content to promote the Masterplan
How people can have their say • Come to one of the sessions • Complete an online survey • Complete a printed survey at one of the events or at Oakham Library… and post it to us using a freepost envelope
Response to current issues and queries Throughout the high-level Masterplan process and beyond RCC will continue to take on board and respond to queries and issues. Here is a summary so far of some of the issues raised and our response. Query/issue Response The consultation is not We are engaging at the earliest long enough possible point in the project and there will be continual engagement as the Masterplan evolves and through the Local Plan process. Nonetheless we are happy to take on board feedback and extend the current consultation period by 2 weeks.
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