Winchester MP Steve Brine has told the House of Commons (Monday January 8) that an “imaginative masterplan” is needed for the replacement of Sir John Moore Barracks.
The site north of Winchester is due for disposal sometime in 2026 under the Army’s “Future Soldier” strategy that will bring phase one training capability onto the Pirbright site.
The MPs comments came after he met with senior officials from the DIO (Defence Infrastructure Organisation) and officers from the Flowerdown site on Friday to receive an update on plans for facility that was repurposed in 1986 as an Army Training Regiment to replace Peninsular Barracks.
Steve Brine told the House of Commons “right now we seem set to put 900 houses on the site” and asked to meet with a Minister at the MoD “so I can be sure this Ministerial team remain fully behind this disposal and, if so, to ensure we end up with an imaginative masterplan that doesn’t just end up being a way for Winchester City Council to meet its’ housing targets.”
Steve Brine added; “I have stayed very close to plans for the site since its’ disposal was announced and know there is a lot of interest in what comes next, especially among my constituents living in Harestock and Littleton who are anxious for-instance to safeguard an open space for nature and recreation.“
The DIO are clearly working hard to engage residents - and the workshops last month were an important part of that - but we need to widen that now and make sure it doesn’t end up, despite all the best intentions, being just another housing estate north of Winchester that is remember set to be almost half the size of Barton Farm.
“I also want to be sure this new set of Ministers remain committed to the disposal of SJMB, given a fast changing world, and if they do to ensure there remains clear Ministerial oversight to make the best of what is a very large piece of Winchester real estate.”
Defence Minister James Cartlidge MP agreed to meet Mr Brine as soon as possible.
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