October 2010's Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR) set out a path to a coherent and affordable Defence capability in 2020 and beyond. It also laid some key building blocks for this, such as the return of the Army from Germany and a Royal Air Force structured around fewer, more capable fast jets.
The Defence Transformation announcement of 18 July 2011 gave more detail about how this would be achieved, setting out:
- The strategic, long-term, direction to bring the Army back from Germany;
- Associated basing changes for the RAF and the Royal Navy; and
- A plan for receipts from the sale of estate we no longer require.
The Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) is now carrying out work to ensure that the facilities the Armed Forces need to live, work and train are in place when they need them. Each of the Services is working with DIO to develop the detailed plans needed to deliver these facilities. This work, referred to as the Basing Optimisation Programme (BOP), will establish how the Defence estate can be configured to best support current and future military requirements long into the future.
Kinloss is one of the sites affected by the future basing review.
Picture: Crown Copyright/MOD 2011
As well as helping deliver the SDSR's vision of what Defence should look like by the turn of the decade, the basing work provides other benefits. These include:
- Providing fit-for-purpose infrastructure to support both operations and Service personnel and their families.
- Support for the development of the New Employment Model for all Service personnel.
Disposal receipts have always been an important part of the overall Defence budget, the money raised being spent on key Defence priorities in support of our servicemen and women.
Some sites within scope of the BOP will inevitably become surplus to Defence needs as we seek to reduce infrastructure running costs and generate disposal receipts from the sale of surplus estate to meet HM Treasury targets. Our disposal activity also ties into Government plans to dispose of surplus public land that can be used for 100,000 new homes.
The Basing Optimisation Programme will establish how the Defence estate can be configured to best support current and future military requirements long into the future.
Supporting wider defence initiatives
The basing work supports wider Defence Reform and Defence Transformation aims. It also supports the study into what the Army should look like in 2020 and beyond, a piece of work commissioned by the Chief of the General Staff (CGS) following the announcement of rebalancing of regular and reserve forces in July 2011. The Department must also take into account that personnel returning from Germany will need accommodating at a range of locations within the UK, with troops needing new facilities at some sites and re-configuration of existing facilities at others.
Initial moves
The first preliminary moves were announced in November 2011 as part of the future basing programme. These were as follows:
- 2nd Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment (2 R ANGLIAN) to move from Cyprus to former RAF Cottesmore in Summer 2012;
- 2nd Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment (2 YORKS) to move from Cyprus to Elizabeth Barracks, Pirbright, in Summer 2013;
- 7 Regiment Royal Logistic Corps (RLC) to move from Bielefeld in Germany to former RAF Cottesmore in Summer 2013;
- 39 Engineer Regiment (Air Support) to move from Waterbeach in Cambridgeshire to former RAF Kinloss in Summer 2012. 25 Engineer Regiment headquarters, also based in Waterbeach, will be disbanded by 31 May 2012;
- Headquarters elements of 12 (Air Support) Engineer Group to move from Waterbeach to RAF Wittering in Summer 2013; and
- 43 Close Support Squadron RLC to move from Princess Royal Barracks, Gütersloh, Germany, to Dalton Barracks, Abingdon, early in 2012.
Work is now underway to allow these moves to take place and ensure a smooth transition for those personnel affected.
Kinloss will become home to soldiers from 39 Engineer Regiment from summer 2012.
Picture: Crown Copyright/MOD 2011
Next steps
We have established a Basing Optimisation Programme Board (BOPB) with broad MOD representation to create common purpose and to take the basing work forward. The next stage will be to conduct a series of studies to better understand the potential capacity of sites being considered. These studies will inform recommendations to Ministers about which sites to keep, which to sell and which to develop with new infrastructure. We will be establishing a comprehensive plan for engagement, including regular stakeholder meetings with those likely to be affected by the outcomes of the basing work.