Plans for a major housing development at a former military site in North Yorkshire have been criticised by locals, who say it will erase their military heritage and put a strain on resources. Homes England acquired the land at Ripon Barracks from the Ministry of Defence (MoD) this week, marking a significant step forward in a large-scale housing scheme that would increase the population of Ripon by a fifth, through 1,300 new builds. The already-vacated Deverell Barracks would be the first to begin construction, Homes England said, while Claro Barracks, Laver Banks and a former engineering park would be the site of hundreds more houses following the relocation of Royal Engineers to the nearby Catterick Garrison next year.
The military site was deemed surplus to military requirements in 2016, with a date for armed services relocation set for 2026, but Ripon City Council leader Andrew Williams said he thinks its repurposing should be halted and subject to further consideration. “The world is in a very different place than when the barracks were deemed surplus to requirements,” he told the Express. “It’s clear that the global situation is becoming increasingly less stable rather than more. I don’t follow the logic of closing a site that has trained and delivered engineers for decades.”
As well as putting pressure on resources including GP services and schools, the barracks’ closure would deal a blow to Ripon’s rich military history, and hundreds of new residents would scatter its homogenous identity of military descendants, Mr Williams said.
“There is a long-standing historical connection between the engineers and the city, which goes back a considerable length of time,” he added.
“My own dad served in the engineers here and settled in Ripon, where he met my mum. There are an awful lot of people who are in the same situation or have some kind of family link to the engineers.
“Over a thousand additional properties won’t be good for building a cohesive community, and I think we’ll lose our sense of community spirit.
“It would be one thing if the demand for more housing were here, but it isn’t. The approach doesn’t seem to be about gauging local need, but instead building and building and building and destabilising close-knit areas.”
Ripon Barracks was built in 1915 and played a role in both World Wars, first as a convalescent camp, then a training base for soldiers preparing for D-Day and during the Cold War.
Critics have also warned that the new development could destroy the site’s historic military structures, with a campaign from the Ripon Military Heritage Trust calling for Laver Banks to be converted into a heritage centre to celebrate rather than “demolish” some of the best-preserved huts of their kind.
“I think the housing blitz is overriding everything else,” Mr Williams said. “The Government is blinkered when, if anything, defence should be taking priority at the moment. The city council has supported the redevelopment of Deverell Barracks because it’s already empty, but there’s unanimous support for the others, especially Claro Barracks, to remain as they are.”
Homes England said it would work with the MoD to recognise the site’s military past “through appreciative design, landscaping and interpretive elements”.
The development will be part of the MoD’s Defence Estate Optimisation project, releasing military sites that are no longer needed for other uses.
Deputy Prime Minister 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 deliver 1.5 million homes in our Plan for Change.”