The development of St George’s Barracks is continuing apace and we now await the publication of a draft Master Plan which will identify what the outline proposals are. Local consultation seems a low priority for RCC and therefore the Parish Council are keen to keep Villagers up to speed with developments. I will be holding the Annual Parish Meeting on 16th April and will ensure that you get a chance to raise your concerns at that meeting. I am meeting Sir Alan Duncan MP tomorrow to discuss the ‘Concerns Paper’ that we published earlier in the week. Meanwhile the following notes help to show the pace of progress.
Yesterday I attended RCC to listen to the Cabinet discussion on the development of the Officers’ Mess site. The relevant discussion paper is attached. It was agreed by Cabinet at that meeting to allocate a sum of £850,000 to enter into negotiations to acquire the site (4 Hectares) by the County Council with an intent to build 70+ homes on that site. The proposal is that the Council will acquire the site and take forward the development outside of the main St George’s project. It was confirmed that at least 30% of these homes would be ‘affordable homes’ which included starter homes. The funding will be required to “develop proposals at The Officers’ Mess up to the point prior to the issue of tenders for the contractor that will deliver the works element of the project.”
Today I received the following note from CE RCC:
I am pleased to say that a bid for national funding for investment in infrastructure to support the redevelopment of the St George’s barracks has progressed to the next stage. The bid is primarily designed to ensure that development on the site happens in a sustainable way with the appropriate investment in infrastructure such as roads, transport. schools and healthcare. Speaking after the announcement was made, Rutland County Council Leader Oliver Hemsley said: “The HIF is a new source of funding set up specifically to support local authorities who are planning for sustainable housing growth in their areas.
“We’re clear that any future development on the St George’s site must have the necessary infrastructure needed to support both new and existing communities.”Stage two of the HIF bidding process involves the development of a business case to support the proposal for funding before a final decision on the allocation of funding is made in summer 2018.
Rutland County Council and the Ministry of Defence have been working and will continue to work with local communities as part of the planning for St George’s. Focus group meetings held in January were attended by more than 150 people and local communities will soon be asked share their views about the first draft of a high level master plan for the site.
PBG CUMMINGS Chair NLPC
Tel: 01780 720124