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St George’s

Engagement Timeline

Version: 16 April 2018

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Contents

1. Summary 3

2. Timeline of Events 4

3. Edith Weston and North Luffenham Briefing – 30 March 2018 5

4. Members Briefing – 10 April 2017 6

5. Parish Council Forum – 17 July 2017 8

6. Stakeholder Launch – 25 September 2017 12

7. Parish Council Briefings – October/November 2017 17

8. Focus Group Sessions – 27 January 2018 21

9. Members Briefing – 5 February 2017 25

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1. Summary

Rutland County Council and the Ministry of Defence (MOD) are working closely with a

range of local partners to explore possible options for the future use of St George’s

Barracks, North Luffenham, which is earmarked for closure in 2020/21 as part of the

government’s Defence Estate Rationalisation and Optimisation programme.

The Army has been and will remain a significant part of the Rutland Community and the

impact felt by the closure of St George’s will be significant.

Early discussions between RCC and the MOD have fostered a genuine appetite to work

together as part of an innovative new approach that means the MOD can capitalise on

the value of the site, while ensuring the Council is able to deliver sustainable

development in what is one of the most desirable locations in the East Midlands.

The shared vision of this Partnership is that the 300 hectare St George’s site will be

transformed into a successful mixed use, sustainable community with supporting

infrastructure, housing, an enterprise zone, community facilities, dedicated green

spaces, leisure and recreation.

The full scale of the St George’s project is subject to a number of variables, most

notably the presence of important minerals beneath the site, the mining of which takes

priority ahead of any future development opportunities.

Initial master planning led by Rutland County Council and the MOD has highlighted the

importance of providing appropriate infrastructure as part of any development and

identified one area of the St George’s site for possible advanced delivery, with

emphasis placed on providing high-quality, low-density housing – ensuring the

development is sustainable and sympathetic to the wants and needs of the local

community.

This document summarises the engagement activity that has taken place to date,

including meetings and discussions with various stakeholder groups, local businesses

and members of the public ahead of formal consultation that will take place around an

initial master plan for the site.

All available information about St George’s has been published on the Council’s website

throughout for anyone wanting to know more, ask questions or express an interest in

getting involved: www.rutland.gov.uk/stgeorges

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2. Timeline

November 2016

MoD releases it's Defence Estate Optimisation Plan earmarking St George's

for disposal.

8th November 2016

Rutland County Council issues a Press Release confirming the closure

recommendation

November 2016 - April 2017

Initial discussions with MoD to understand their

plans for the site and likely impact on communities.

7th December 2016

Meeting with 1MWD, Edith Weston and North

Luffenham Parish Council in regards to the tenporary kennelling and the base.

11th March 2017

Meeting with Sharon Milner - Head of Edith

Weston Primary

30th March 2017

Meeting with Anglian Water

30th March 2017

Edith Weston and North Luffenham St George's Briefing - with Cllr Bool and Cllr Waller (Ward

Members)

10th April 2017Rutland County Council Members are briefed on

the project.

18th April 2017

One Public Estate report approved at Cabinet

22nd May 2017

Meeting with Parish Council's, RCC Planning

and Ward Members

17th July 2017

Rutland County Council attended the Parish

Council Forum

17th July 2017

Meeting with Trevor Ellis -Tenant at St George's

18th July 2017

Meeting with Head Teacher from St Mary's and St John's School

8th August 2017

Utilities Workshop

11th September 2017

Meeting with Trevor Ellis -Tenant at St George's

25th September 2017

Press Briefing

25th September 2017

Stakeholder Launch

25th October 2017 Meeting with Edith Weston

and North Luffenham Chairs

26th October 2017

North Luffenham Parish Briefing

31st October 2017

Edith Weston Parish Briefing

1st November 2017

Empingham Parish Briefing

15th November 2017

Ketton Parish Briefing

30th November 2017

Meeting with Edith Weston and North Luffenham

Chairs

25th January 2018

Focus Group Sessions

25th January 2018

Memorandum of Understanding added to Rutland County Council

website.

5th February 2018

Rutland County Council Members Briefing

14th February 2018

Minerals Survey added to Rutland County Council

website

20th March 2018

Officer's Mess Aquisition report approved at

Cabinet.

4th April 2018

Meeting with Edith Weston and North Luffenham

Chairs

11th April 2018

Meeting with Trevor Ellis -Tenant St George's

16th April 2018

North Luffenham Annual Meeting

23rd April 2018

Workshops -Heritage/Utilities/

Community Services

29th April 2018

South Luffenham Meeitng

11th and 12th May 2018

Public Launch/Engagement

Event

16th May 2018

Meeting and Drop in Session

South Luffenham

17th May 2018

Drop in Session -Uppingham Town Hall

23rd May 2018

Meeting and Drop in Session

Edith Weston Village Hall

30th May 2018

Drop in Session - Ketton Library

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3. Edith Weston and North Luffenham Briefing

On 30th March 2017 Rutland County Council attended a briefing session with North

Luffenham and Edith Weston Parish Council’s to discuss the proposed closure of the

St George’s Barracks base. Councillor’s Waller and Bool as Ward Members were

also in attendance.

Notes taken at this meeting are shown below.

St George’s Barracks Briefing 30th March 2017

Edith Weston PC, North Luffenham PC and Ward Members Cllrs Bool and

Waller

Confirm that the Base is proposed for closure from 2020/21

There are some elements of the site that may remain in use by the MOD post 2020/21 but these are relatively small in the context of the whole site

2 Medical Regiment are being disbanded and on current plans will have left St George’s by the end of 2018

A decision has not be taken on where 1 MWD Regiment will be rebased and a study is being undertaken during 2017 to test the feasibility of Kendrew vs Melton – Kendrew seems to be the favourite

The temporary kennelling is proceeding as planned and the 2 Squadrons will return to St George’s from Germany later this year

The MOD have confirmed the housing owned by Annington Homes will continue to be used by the MOD to support Kendrew, Wittering and further afield

The Council is in an on-going dialog with the MOD about the future of the site

DIO are very clear they have a mandate to realise the value of the site

We are mindful of the Minerals potential of the site and that this takes precedence over all other potential uses

RCC will be bidding for funding to explore with the MOD potential future use of the site under the Government’s One Public Estate project

We are keen that the site is not left as a redundant site

At this stage nothing is being ruled in or out – this includes housing, business, commercial, potentially a re-provision of the primary school and leisure and recreation

We will continue to work closely with the MOD

Any development will be phased and over a long period of time – this is a 5 – 20 year project

We will ensure we engage and communicate with you at all the key stages and a soon as vision and plans start to crystallise we will want to engage with you – you will have an opportunity to contribute to the future of the site

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4. Members Briefing

On 10th April 2017 Rutland County Council held a Members briefing to discuss the

One Public Estate programme and the St George’s project.

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5. Parish Council Forum

On 17th July 2017 Rutland County Council provided the Parish Council Forum with a

full overview of the One Public Estate programme and the St George’s project. All

Rutland Parishes are invited to attend this meeting.

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ATTENDANCE LIST

NAME REPRESENTING

Mr Kenneth Bool Chairman

Mr Tony Graveling Ashwell Parish Council

Mr Gordon Brown Barrowden Parish Council

Mrs Susan Pickwoad Barrowden Parish Council

Mrs Sheila Saunders Barrowden Parish Council

Mr Brian Shuttleworth Belton in Rutland Parish Council

Mr Mark Wood Bisbrooke Village Meeting

Mr Jim Atack Braunston Parish Council

Mr Chris Bichard Braunston Parish Council

Mr Cliff Bacon Clipsham Parish Meeting

Mr Chris Donovan Cottesmore Parish Council

Mr John Meara Cottesmore Parish Council

Mr Peter Coe Edith Weston Parish Council

Mr Ed Jarron Edith Weston Parish Council

Mr Norman Milne Edith Weston Parish Council

Mr Derek Palmer Exton and Horn Parish Council

Mr Ken Edward Greetham Parish Council

Dr David Hodson Greetham Parish Council

Mrs Ann Jenkins Greetham Parish Council

Dr Janet Higgins Langham Parish Council

Mr Martin Whitfield Morcott Parish Council

Mr Christopher Renner Normanton Parish Meeting

Mr Peter Ind. Oakham Town Council

Mr Adam Lowe Oakham Town Council

Mrs Joyce Lucas Oakham Town Council

Mrs June Fox Rutland County Council (Exton & Horn Ward) Mr Andrew Stewart Rutland County Council (Market Overton Ward) Mr Alan Walters Rutland County Council (Oakham NE Ward) Mr Tony Mathias Rutland County Council (Oakham SE Ward) Mr Victor Bacon South Luffenham Parish Council

Mrs Pat Bellamy South Luffenham Parish Council

Mr Mike Clatworthy Tickencote Parish Meeting

Mr David Ainslie Uppingham Town Council

Mr David Casewell Uppingham Town Council

Mrs Christine Edwards Uppingham Town Council

Mr Stephen Rozak Uppingham Town Council

Mr Ron Simpson Uppingham Town Council

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6. Stakeholder Launch

On 25th September 2017 two meetings took place to launch the St George’s project

to key Stakeholders. These included Rutland County Council Members, Parish

Council’s, local Schools, Utility companies, local businesses and tenants already

located on the St George’s base.

The attendees were provided with a pack of information which included a FAQ

document, a copy of the presentation from the event and a feedback form. The

feedback form also gave attendees the opportunity to express their interest to attend

Focus Group sessions which would be taking place in January 2018.

The event was presented jointly by Rutland County Council and the Ministry of

Defence.

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St Georges’s Stakeholder Launch Photographs

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7. Parish Council Briefings

Rutland County Council attended four public Parish Council briefings. In total six

Parish Councils were in attendance at these briefings. Each attendee was issued

with a FAQ document and a feedback form which invited comments and questions

and included the option to attend the Focus Group Sessions in January 2018.

The presentation used at each of these briefings was made available to the wider

public on the Council’s website via the dedicated St George’s page.

North Luffenham 26/10/2017 Approx. 200

Edith Weston 31/10/2017 Approx. 150

Empingham 01/11/2017 Approx. 50

Ketton 15/11/2017 Approx. 35

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8. Focus Group Sessions

Following on from Public Parish Briefings that took place in October and November

2017, the Council and Ministry of Defence held two Focus Group sessions in the

Officer's Mess at St George's Barracks on Monday 29 January.

The sessions were attended by close to 150 people who were either members of

surrounding communities or had expressed an interest in taking part from the wider

Rutland community.

Each session lasted for just over an hour and a half, during which time participants

were asked to highlight what they felt was important with respect to any future

redevelopment of St George's Barracks.

All of the feedback gathered at these focus groups will be collated, published on this

page and used to help inform master planning for the St George's site, ahead of

further engagement and consultation.

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Outputs from Focus Group Sessions

Table 1 – Key Points

Housing to be constructed in local materials

What will the name of the new development be? Will it be joined with North

Luffenham/Edith Weston

Maximise green space and minimise development

Create jobs for younger generation

Cinema/Restaurants/Canal Network/Swimming Pool/leisure centre/community

hall

Can the small airfield be kept for light aircraft/trade shows/car boots/caravan

sites

Public transport improvement

Youth Services to support the growth of residents

Road safety

Infrastructure must be in place first

Self-sustaining energy

Maximum 500 houses/20 per hectare

Doctors/Blue Light services and better coverage

Possibility of a County Hospital

Maintain Primary Schools

Work from home properties/faster broadband

What will happen to the golf course

Memorial to mark 50 years of RAF/Army

Table 3 – Key Points

Cycling provision

Phased development

Extension to Peterborough Hospital

New bypass road

Affordable housing/housing association

Ecology surveys as site very important for local wildlife

New footpaths

Hotel

Green belt between development and North Luffenham

Care Home

Woodland area to screen development

Wildlife site/nature reservoir

Attach conditions to quarry permissions

Bus service direct to Oakham

Wider buffer around Thor Missile site

Further focus groups

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High street with shops

Crichel Down rules

Table 4 – Key Points

Housing realistically limited to western area to avoid minerals extraction zone

New hotel complex – linked to local suppliers

Would generate good local employment

Community orchards, wildlife and nature areas

Artisan business units/technology hub

Variety of small business units

Strong need for social housing

Retirement living opportunities

Site not suitable for large distribution centres

Energy farm – PV

Green housing

Cycle paths

Buffer zones

Glamping/Yurts

Need to ensure new development does not put existing businesses at risk

Reopening North Luffenham/Ketton railway line – possible tourist attraction

Concern of a possible rat run through North Luffenham

New pub – micro brewery

Large village green to north/west of site

Expand existing roads – keen to preserve existing roads as country lanes

Concern of new traffic generation in Ketton

Would prefer 1500 homes

Table 5 – Key Points

Hotel in the area in keeping with the local area

Retain golf course/cricket field and fields

Minerals survey to be placed on the website once available

Allotments/orchards/vineyards

Wood clad building and usage of Rutland stone

Possible solar farm

Aquaponics in unused area

Commercial/industrial in north of the site

Retain and use green space

Centre parks

Different name and physically separate from other villages

Concern around environment impacts from mining

Balance of the settlements in the County

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Need for a risk register

Affordable housing/shared ownership and reduce price

Comparison to Eden Project

Science Park/Higher Education

Separate access for employment areas

Higher value jobs

Linkage to Oakham Public Transport

Concerns over impact to Uppingham and Oakham

Dutch cycle village

Extension of cycle paths from Rutland Water

Bird and wildlife research centre

Planned woodland – coppicing

Automotive industry

Table 8 – Key Points

Retain sports centre and facilities on site

Affordable homes

Retain buildings that are in good condition

Hi-Tech industry similar to Cambridge Science Park

More walking routes

Sewage waste to existing sewage works

Access to site i.e. HGV’s must be via alternative route and not through

villages

Infrastructure first

Schools/Surgeries/Roads/Parking/Shops/Telecoms/Hospitals

Phased development

Incremental growth

Maintain the character of the area

Farming before extraction then again after

No houses next to or near Thor Missiles

Memorial site

Could the MOD come to another meeting with examples of what they have

achieved on other sites

Table 9 – Key Points

Wooded area

Outdoor pursuits/cycle paths

Adequate playground

Walking

Car park

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Museum on listed area

Protection of listed area

Traffic management and access to site during development

Green buffer separation

Would there be a new road

Access for emergency vehicles

6th Form college

Public transport

Doctors surgery/dentist

Two storey homes and bungalows

Places of worship

Affordable housing

Mixed employment – no more than two storey

Not like OEP

Leisure centre

No skate park

All of the feedback gathered at these focus groups will be collated, published on this

page and used to help inform master planning for the St George's site, ahead of

further engagement and consultation.

9. Members Briefing

On 5th February 2018 Rutland County Council provided Rutland Council members

with an update of the One Public Estate programme. The presentation provided

informed Members of the funding received thus far from the programme.

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