MINISTRY OF DEFENCE
News Release (145/2008) issued by The Government News Network on 30
June 2008
The MoD have today
released the Defence Estate Development Plan, which draws together
strategies for the continued rationalisation, development and
improvement of the estate and military accommodation over the next
two decades.
The plan consolidates objectives from all three Services such as
planned site closures, requirements for training estates and
sustainability targets, so all military personnel and stakeholders
have an overview of the short and long-term plans for sites.
With the planned closure of smaller sites across the UK, the
Estate will move towards sustainable Defence Communities,
consisting of fewer, larger sites, similar to those that already
exist such as Aldershot, Plymouth and Catterick. This will ensure
that service personnel and their families will need to move less
to avoid disruptions to family life.
Minister for the Armed Forces, Bob Ainsworth said:
"This plan will help us deliver an estate that supports both
the current and evolving military need in addition to providing
value for money.
"Sustainability also remains a key tenet of Government
policy and the plan reflects the MoD's commitment to this
important agenda."
The Chief Executive of Defence Estates, Vice Admiral Tim Laurence said:
"Accommodation is a key driver to security and satisfaction
for both military personnel and their families and I am determined
to ensure that we do all we can to get this right. The Defence
Estate Development Plan plays a vital part in achieving this.
"The plan is a vital framework that gives us a head-mark to
aim for as we take the estate forward to meet both current and
future defence needs. It gives a clear indication of our intent to
manage the estate in a structured and co-ordinated way. We aim to
use the resources available to achieve the very best that we can
for those who live and work within it."
Notes to Editors
1. The sites highlighted for closure have already been announced
through the connected reviews ongoing across the services and
defence. A full list can be seen in the plan: http://www.defence-estates.mod.uk/publications/dedp08.php
2. Defence Estates is a MoD organisation. On 1 April 2005 it was
re-launched with responsibilities for managing the Defence estate
as a corporate asset on behalf of the MoD, and for the delivery of
maintenance, works and services.
3. Defence Estates assumed responsibility for the management and
maintenance of the Service Families Accommodation estate in the
mainland UK on 1 April 2004, following its merger with the Defence
Housing Executive.