Major changes revealed for massive St George’s scheme

Major changes to a massive proposed residential and commercial development on the site of an army barracks in Rutland have been announced following a public consultation.Plans to redevelop St George’s Barracks in North Luffenham were first revealed in September 2017 by Rutland County Council and the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and include the provision for between 1,500 and 3,500 homes.However, following a public consultation which attracted more than 600 responses, the number of houses has been reduced to between 1,500 and 2,700.The site, which is due to be vacated by the army by 2021, also includes 34-acres of employment land, a relocated and enlarged Edith Weston Academy, a new local centre with shops and other services, a new health and wellbeing centre with GP surgery, a multi-functional community centre, and a new country park.The plans also state that more than 60 per cent of the site will be dedicated to public open space.Following the consultation, the scheme will be amended to increase the size of the buffer zones and green space around the development and more detailed transport assessments will also be carried out.Details of the specific types of employment to be attracted to the business zone and how the jobs will be brought forward alongside the new homes will also be worked on.An updated version of the masterplan is due to be presented to the council’s cabinet in October and full council in November.