Ripon's priceless military heritage assets are under threat once more after an about-turn from the government's housing and regeneration agency Homes England.

Ripon played a major role in both world wars and the Cold War. The poet Wilfred Owen was among thousands stationed in the city during the First World War and the Laver Banks site played a pioneering role in military bridges. Further details are available here.

Military and civic organisations campaigned to preserve this heritage when plans were revealed to build 1,300 homes at the city's barracks, which will be the biggest single residential development in Ripon’s history.

They thought the section 106 agreement agreed with developers when the project was approved last year would do this but Jane Furse (pictured below) a trustee of Ripon Military Heritage Trust, told the Stray Ferret:

Ms Furse added:

At the Harrogate Borough Council planning meeting in February at which Homes England was effectively given the green light for the 1,300-home development to be known as Clotherholme, councillors agreed  a clause, referring to: 'provision within the s106 to secure a strategy to secure military heritage within the site.'

Without this in place any plans to preserve and promote Ripon's military history and develop a trail that has potential to attract heritage tourists to the city will remain in doubt.

The Stray Ferret is seeking a response from Homes England.

Main image: Rare huts that were home to Second World War soldiers are among the heritage buildings the trust is trying to preserve. Picture RMHT

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• Ripon's rich military heritage is under threat


• Council requires heritage assets at Ripon site to have legal protection