Robertson Barracks

Dereham, Norfolk

As part of a wider £5.1bn investment programme to deliver a modern and sustainable estate for the military to live and train on, Robertson Barracks has been identified as surplus to military requirements and is expected to close by 2031. This creates an opportunity to plan for the future and how the site can continue to play a positive role in Norfolk life long after the Army leaves.

Click here to find out more about the future of Robertson Barracks

Planning for the future

Breckland District Council is in the process of updating its Local Plan. This is an important document that will guide how the District grows and develops over the next 20 years, including where new homes, jobs, services and green spaces should be located.

With the planned closure of the barracks by 2031, the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) is exploring potential future uses for the site and how it could contribute to this growth, so that it continues to support the surrounding towns and villages and wider Norfolk area.

The DIO has therefore put forward the site for consideration in the emerging Local Plan. This allows the Council to assess whether the land could play a role in meeting future needs. At this stage, the site has been identified as being capable of accommodating up to 2,000 new homes.

What happens next?

The Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) is carrying out a range of studies to better understand what the future of the site could look like and how any changes can be delivered in a responsible and sustainable way. This work considers transport and access, local heritage, the surrounding landscape and wildlife, infrastructure, and flood risk – helping to make sure that any future plans are practical, well-supported and considerate of the area.

The results of these studies will help inform Breckland District Council’s Local Plan update, making sure that decisions about the site are based on strong evidence. Throughout this process, the DIO will continue to work closely with Breckland District Council, Swanton Morley Parish Council, Hoe and Worthing Parish Council and the local community.

Keeping local stakeholders and the community informed and involved is a key part of this work. Updates will be shared on the expected timing of the barracks’ closure, possible future uses for the site and how ideas for the masterplan are developing. Local feedback will play an important role in shaping what happens next and helping to guide the future of the site.

The team

The Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) is the estate expert for defence, supporting the armed forces to enable military capability by planning, building, maintaining and servicing infrastructure. The DIO is part of the Ministry of Defence (MOD).

The DIO has appointed a professional team of consultants to look at the opportunity and to undertake detailed feasibility studies on future options for Robertson Barracks.

In the meantime, if you have a question for us or would like to provide us with any comments, please contact Cascade Communications, our community engagement consultant on:

Email: consultation@cascadecommunications.co.uk

Phone: 0207 871 3565

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Tetra Tech is acting as environmental and technical advisor to the DIO, responsible for feasibility studies.

Savills is acting as planning consultant to the DIO.

Cascade Communications is delivering stakeholder engagement and community consultation.