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17
Jun
Homes England acquires Ripon Barracks ahead of 1,300-home development
Homes England has said that it has acquired the Ripon Barracks site from the Ministry of Defence which is earmarked for 1,300 new homes.
The government housing agency and the MOD confirmed in a joint statement today (June 17) that the site will be developed into homes following a sale between the two public sector organisations.
A Homes England spokesperson said they could not reveal the sum paid due to "commercial sensitivity" but "the gross development value of the site is £106 million".
Homes England has planning permission to build on the 85 hectares of land accessed via Clotherholme Road to the south and Kirkby Road to the north. But it has only now taken ownership of the land.
The development will be delivered in phases, with initial work beginning at the vacant Deverell Barracks site to provide the first 150 new homes.
The remaining areas – Claro Barracks, Laver Banks, and the former Engineering Park – will be developed following the scheduled departure of the Royal Engineers to the nearby Marne Barracks in Catterick. However, no date has been given for that.
Deputy Prime Minister and Housing Secretary 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.
A computer generated image of how Clotherholme will look. Pic: AECOM
Homes England will coordinate delivery of the infrastructure needed before construction can begin. This includes the planning of site-wide drainage, supporting road networks, and other key enabling works.
Both Homes England and the MoD said they will work together to honour the site’s military past through appreciative design, landscaping, and interpretive elements within the new community.
Core design principles will preserve and integrate notable historical features of the site, such as the linear parade ground layout and the original footpath network.
However, they have yet to commit to preserving the key military history artefacts requested by the charity Ripon Military Heritage Trust.
Eamonn Boylan, chief executive of Homes England, said:
This milestone achievement is the result of two 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.
Part of the Clotherholme site.
Robert Smith, deputy dead of major disposals at the Defence Infrastructure Organisation, which is responsible for the MoD's estate, 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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