Homes England acquires Ripon Barracks 

The government agency intends to build 1,300 homes on the site, which it bought from the Ministry of Defence, acting as master developer.

Working alongside consultant AECOM, Homes England will also coordinate the infrastructure needed for the estate, such as drainage, road networks, and enabling works.

The design will keep references to the military history of the site, with features sich as the linear parade ground and the original footpath network kept intact.

Work on the development will provide 150 homes in phase one, at the vacant Deverell Barracks, before the remaining Claro Barracks, Laver Banks, and the former Engineering Park are brought forward once the Royal Engineers have all been relocated to Catterick’s Marne Barracks.

Already scheduled for closure, Ripon Barracks will also house green spaces, a primary school, community centre, and a retail section.

Part of plans to reposition public sector land, the MoD, the Ministry for Housing, Communities, and Local Government, and HM Treasury are working together to accelerate housebuilding.

The MoD has been working to identify sites it no longer needs, while also pinpointing key military infrastructure to invest in.

Credit: Homes England

Deputy Prime Minister and secretary for housing, 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.”

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 1.5m 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.”

Defence secretary, John Healey MP said: “We are delivering on our promise to create a new, trailblazer approach to the use of public land and unlock homeownership for working families in North Yorkshire and beyond.

“We are working together to speed up planning permissions and housebuilding plans. This is a truly cross-government effort to remove blockers, deliver homes and boost growth in support of our Plan for Change.

“Alongside this, we are investing more than £7bn this Parliament on improving accommodation for military personnel and their families, providing them the standard of living they truly deserve.”

Deputy head of major disposals for DIO, Robert Smith, said: “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.”