Reprieve for Army Barracks

The Ministry of Defence has announced a  delay of the dispose of Prince William of Gloucester barracks in 2020 .

Three years ago, it was to be taken from service and sold for housing by 2020.

It was one of 56 more sites to be sold off.

In September 2016  it was revealed that the Somerby Hill site would be sold off to make way for housing. It was estimated that the site could accommodate 4,000 homes.

But the plans have been delayed.

Defence minister Tobias Ellwood made the announcement on the bases in a statement to MPs last week, with the status of 33 bases changing.

Mr Ellwood said five sites – Prince William of Gloucester Barracks, Venning Barracks, RAF Henlow, Chilwell Station and RAF Halton – will be part of a “phased withdrawal and disposal”.

It is understood that PWG will now close in 2022/23 but at best 2025.

Mr Ellwood revealed that a further three sites had since been disposed of to add to the original nine he announced in July 2018.

The closures were originally announced in November 2016, as part of the government’s ‘better defence estate’ plan, which identified 56 defence sites to be vacated and sold.

At the time, then-Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon told Forces News all decisions had been taken on the basis of military advice and that the majority of funds generated from the sales would go towards new and modern accommodation.

Thursday’s announcement is accompanied by the confirmation that £1.5 billion will be invested across the country over the next five years to ensure that the estate meets both military requirements and the high standards required to house and support service personnel and their families.