Army move out of barracks is delayed by two years

The Army has delayed moving out of a barracks in Gloucestershire which is a key site in a district council's plan to build new homes.

Beachley Barracks, where the River Severn meets the River Wye, was set to be demolished in 2029 but that plan has been delayed to 2031.

Thee Ministry of Defence (MOD) had said it was not "suitable for the future needs of the Armed Forces" but spokesperson has now said it is a "significant investment decision that cannot be rushed".

Forest of Dean District Council has identified it as an area where up to 600 homes could be built.

The council recently had to expand its housing plan due to government targets requiring they find space for 12,000 homes to be built over the next 20 years.

If a council doesn't have a firm plan for housing allocation developers can build homes wherever they want and aren't required to also build infrastructure such as roads.

"The aspiration remains to build a new barracks for 1 The Rifles for them to move from Beachley Barracks," an MOD spokesperson said.

"This is a significant investment decision that cannot be rushed, and on current plans we anticipate a delay of at least two years."

The MOD added that it "recognises and regrets the uncertainty" the delay has caused and said it will "continue to update the council as work matures".

At a council meeting last month Conservative District Councillor Nick Evans expressed concern whether the plans for Beachley Barracks would happen at all, and questioned the sustainability of local plan if the site could not be used for 600 new homes.

In a statement Forest of Dean District Council said the Local Plan runs through until 2045, so the delay "is not expected to impact" it over that period.

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