The majority of the top housing development opportunities from a £4bn Ministry of Defence land sell-off are located in the South East, with London’s Woolwich Barracks, SE3, expected to be among the most sought after.
Estates Gazette research has rated the 73 sites in England announced this week by defence secretary Sir Michael Fallon against housing need by local authority area (scroll down for table). Woolwich Barracks, which is home to 550 soldiers, came out on top, with Greenwich’s household numbers expected to rise by 40% between 2016 and 2039.
The least attractive MoD site based on housing demand was Catterick Garrison in Richmondshire, Yorkshire, which has the capacity for 881 homes but where projected household growth is 0%, according to government data.
The figures show that although government land is usually in high demand, the sites represent varied development opportunities, taking into account location as well as decontamination and planning risks. Sir Michael said the MoD’s decision to dispose of land was based on military advice on how the armed forces can be better clustered to improve capabilities, rather than on areas facing the most housing need.
However, Gary Owens, director of acquisitions at Harworth, said major brownfield sites in strategic locations would be attractive to housebuilders and commercial developers owing to limited land supply.
Prime housing sites expected to attract high interest include Invicta Park Barracks in Maidstone, Kent, which is due for closure in 2027 and is currently home to 800 soldiers and their families. Kneller Hall in Richmond upon Thames is also expected to be one of the most profitable disposals. It has capacity for 192 homes at the 23-acre site, which includes a 19th-century mansion.
TOP 10 MoD SITES BASED ON HOUSING NEED IN LOCAL AUTHORITY AREA
| MoD SITE | LOCAL AUTHORITY | REGION | FORECAST HOUSEHOLD GROWTH 2016 (%) | NET ADDITIONAL DWELLINGS 2012-13 | NET ADDITIONAL DWELLINGS 2013-14 | NET ADDITIONAL DWELLINGS 2014-15 | NUMBER OF MoD SITES TO BE RELEASED | CAPACITY (NUMBER OF HOMES) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Woolwich Station | Greenwich | London | 40 | 110 | 1,110 | 1,150 | 1 | N/A |
| Cavalry Barracks Hounslow | Hounslow | London | 38 | 230 | 690 | 400 | 2 | N/A |
| Carver Barracks | Uttlesford | South East | 33 | 550 | 390 | 470 | 1 | N/A |
| RAF Henlow | Central Bedfordshire | South East | 33 | 970 | 1,260 | 1,520 | 1 | 2,000 |
| Kneller Hall | Richmond upon Thames | London | 31 | 490 | 360 | 240 | 1 | 192 |
| RAF Halton Airfield | Aylesbury Vale | South East | 29 | 930 | 990 | 1,420 | 1 | N/A |
| Invicta Park Barracks | Maidstone | South East | 28 | 630 | 430 | 580 | 1 | N/A |
| JSCS Ashchurch (East) | Tewkesbury | South West | 26 | 460 | 590 | 570 | 1 | 550 |
| Somerset Barracks | Shepway | South East | 25 | 210 | 100 | 320 | 1 | N/A |
| RAF Mildenhall | Forest Heath | East of England | 24 | 320 | 250 | 170 | 1 | 5,162 |
The sites, which are all due to be released by 2040, are part of the MoD’s strategy to reduce the size of its estate by 30% by then as part of a £4bn investment in bases and barracks for troops. It aims to release enough land for up to 55,000 homes in this Parliament.
Housing tenure will not be specified by the MoD, with local authorities retaining control over affordable housing delivery.
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