Rutland army base earmarked for ‘garden village’

An army base in Rutland earmarked for closure could be transformed into a ‘garden village’, according to new plans revealed by the county council and the Ministry of Defence (MoD).St George’s Barracks in North Luffenham is due to be closed between 2020 and 2021 and sold as part of a review of MoD land.The council and the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) have been working on a plan for the site since details of the closure were first announced in November 2016.The project for the 741-acre plot, which is a base for 700 soldiers, is expected to take between ten and 15 years to complete.Cllr Oliver Hemsley, Rutland County Council portfolio holder for growth, said that the site will be turned into a ‘garden village’.The DIO and the council will work on a masterplan for the site over the next two years and seek input from local groups and organisations with an interest in the land.