The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is inviting the industry to learn more about its plans for a £4 billion investment programme in the MOD estate.
The investment programme is allied to its just-published 'Better Defence Estate' strategy that will see the MOD embarking on the disposal of 30% of its land holdings in what it describes as the most significant changes to its estate since the Second World War.
The strategy document has identified 91 sites owned or managed by the MOD for disposal and will reinvest the money raised in improved facilities on locations identified around the country.
More than 32,500 acres of excess land is being released, including ten surplus airfields and five golf courses, which the MOD says will help to meet its target of providing enough land for 55,000 new homes.
The £4 billion investment in the MOD's retained estate will be funded from: £1 billion of money raised by the disposal of sites, £1 billion allocated in the government's spending review and £2 billion under the Private Finance 2 (PF2) scheme.
Earlier this month Sir Michael Fallon, Secretary of State for Defence, announced a separate £1.1 billion investment in facilities on Salisbury Plain, putting the total planned investment of over £5 billion on a par with the government's enhanced affordable housing programme.
Graham Dalton, Chief Executive of the Defence Infrastructure Organisation that manages the MOD estate, says the industry day will be a great opportunity for potential partners to learn of development opportunities and suppliers to find out about the procurement approaches the department intends to take to implement its strategy.
Land disposals are just part of the picture. Apart from investment in operational facilities, the strategy will also rationalise where service personnel and their families live, transferring people from more remote and smaller sites to bases where more people live, train and are recruited.
The Strategy lists sites earmarked for disposal, with anticipated dates.
The Defence Infrastructure Organisation will host the industry day at Central Hall Westminster, London SW1, on 14 December 2016. To obtain further detail about the industry day and to apply to register please email DIOASP Estate Optimisation.
Text by Neal Morris, © RIBA
