§ Mr. DismoreTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the timetable for the services vacating the Inglis Barracks, Mill Hill site is; what steps are(a)being taken and (b) to be taken, concerning the marketing of the site; what plans he has to ensure the preservation of the officers' mess and war memorial as part of future development; what discussions his Department has had with the planning authority concerning the future use of the site; and if he will make a statement. [158285]
§ Mr. CaplinThe British Forces Post Office presently situated at Inglis Barracks and Frith Lane, Mill Hill is planned to move to RAF Northolt. The relocation of BFPO forms part of a wider consolidation of the MOD estate in London through Project MODEL (Ministry of Defence Estate London). The timetable for the relocation depends on the construction of a new operational facility at RAF Northolt, and the current project programme suggests that construction work will not be finished until the first quarter of 2007 at the earliest.
1266WFollowing completion of the new facility, at RAF Northolt, there would then be a period of approximately six months to transfer operations to RAF Northolt and to decommission the Mill Hill site in readiness for disposal. These dates are subject to the MOD's usual project approval process.
Preliminary discussions have already taken place with the Local Planning Authority and others, such as English Partnership on the future re-use of the site with a view to developing over the next 12 months a development framework document for the Inglis Barracks site and the surrounding area. The negotiations will address the future of both the officers' mess and war memorial.
Additionally, the issue of military heritage is being considered at length and all interested parties will be involved in discussions to ensure that these aspects are treated in an appropriate manner.
Once the outcome of the work we have in hand is known, we will decide how best to take forward the marketing of the site.