COUNCIL chiefs have stressed they are still talking about the future of land at a Winchester army base.

Sir John Moore Barracks is due to be disposed of in 2026, with plans for a mixed-use development currently progressing.

There are widespread fears that undeveloped open countryside could be deemed as 'brownfield' and thus open for development.

In a recent full council meeting, Cllr Patrick Cunningham asked if the council on what grounds they could decide that all of the Sir John Moore Barracks site is brownfield and if they would revise the SHELAA list of sites available for development.

READ MORE HERE: City council urged to back idea of nature reserve at Sir John Moore Barracks

Cabinet member for built environment, Cllr Russell Gordon-Smith, said: “Officers are still having ongoing discussions with the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) regarding the redevelopment of the barracks site. Their plans continue to evolve and they have not supplied us to date with

information regarding what they consider to be the extent of previously developed land and how this would meet the definition in the National Planning Policy Framework.

“As I said before we would expect any plans for redevelopment of this site to make the best use of the land available. Clearly identifying the extent of previously developed land is an important part of this process but is not the only consideration.

“I can only reiterate the point that anyone with an interest in the site should continue to engage with the DIO, as plans for the site are still being developed, and have not yet been finalised as part of the master planning process.”

 SEE ALSO: Controversial diversion of Andover Road discussed by councillors

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