The Ministry of Defence (MoD) released the land to the agency as part of the Public Land Taskforce’s work to unlock more land
As a military site, Ripon Barracks was scheduled to be closed, but now will be redeveloped into 1,300 new homes by Homes England.
The development will also see natural green spaces, a new primary school, a community centre, and retail area.
The Public Land Taskforce unlocked the land
The taskforce is made up of members of the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government, and HM Treasury. For Ripon Barracks, collaboration took place between Homes England, the MoD, and the Defence Infrastructure Directorate.
The MoD is also currently undergoing a portfolio change, called the Defence Estate Optimisation, involving releasing sites that are no longer of use to the MoD and investment in new and existing military infrastructure.
The Ripon Barracks development will be delivered in phases, starting with the already-empty Deverell Barracks site which will see 150 new homes. Other sites in the development include the Claro Barracks, Laver Banks, and the Engineering Park.
Homes England will oversee the Ripon Barracks development, including the establishment of the infrastructure needed before home construction begins, such as drainage and road networks.
“Ripon Barracks is exactly the kind of practical action people want to see”
Deputy prime minister and secretary for housing, Angela Rayner, said: “Unlocking underused public land like Ripon Barracks is exactly the kind of practical action people want to see, and a crucial part of tackling the housing crisis we face.
“By working with Homes England as a key delivery partner, we’re making a real difference for people in North Yorkshire by creating vibrant communities and driving economic growth. This marks another step forward in our mission to build 1.5 million homes in our Plan for Change.”
Defence secretary, John Healey MP, said: “We are delivering on our promise to create a new, trailblazer approach to the use of public land and unlock homeownership for working families in North Yorkshire and beyond. We are working together to speed up planning permissions and housebuilding plans. This is a truly cross-government effort to remove blockers, deliver homes and boost growth in support of our Plan for Change.
“Alongside this, we are investing more than £7bn this Parliament on improving accommodation for military personnel and their families, providing them the standard of living they truly deserve.”
Eamonn Boylan, chief executive of Homes England, said: “This milestone achievement is the result of government bodies uniting to drive forward this government’s mission of building 1.5 million homes this parliament. By combining MoD’s land assets with Homes England’s planning and development expertise, we’ve unlocked a site with a historic past which we’re determined will shape the development’s future.”
Deputy head of major disposals for DIO, Robert Smith, said: “This is an important milestone in bringing forward Ripon Barracks for redevelopment and is testament to the strong collaboration between all partners involved. Ripon Barracks has a rich history, and this is an excellent example of how sites that are no longer needed by the military can be unlocked to bring real benefits to the local community.”
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