Army Basing Programme update

A masterplan for the development of the military bases on Salisbury Plain has been approved by Wiltshire Council's Strategic Planning Committee. The agenda, which includes the plan, can be seen on the WC website here.

The Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) developed the plan after a six-week consultation period earlier in 2014. It sets out proposed developments to accommodate the extra personnel and their families who are due to move to Wiltshire over the next five years as part of the Army Basing Programme, which details the future for the Army as it restructures and moves back to the UK from Germany.

The plans to bring 4000 servicemen and women to the Salisbury Plain area by 2019 were announced by the Ministry of Defence (MOD) in March 2013.

The Masterplan identifies sites for development at Bulford, Larkhill, Tidworth, Upavon, and Perham Down. Other Army sites on and around Salisbury Plain Training Area (SPTA), including Warminster, Westdown Camp, Knook Camp and Netheravon are unlikely to see any significant change.

The developments, which will be subject to planning permission and Environmental Impact Assessments, involve construction of new accommodation blocks for single soldiers and up to 1,200 service family homes, as well as construction and conversion of other buildings such as garages, armouries, offices and mess facilities. To support the plan, the MOD will be spending up to £800M.

The Army is working with Wiltshire Council to ensure the right level of services and infrastructure is in place with a focus on housing, education, leisure and medical facilities, traffic and transport.