More than 130 homes set for site of Ministry of Defence building

Planning permission is being sought for the demolition of the headquarters of the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) along Kingston Road and Rectory Road, to be replaced with a range of residential dwellings.

The DIO is responsible for enabling defence people to live, work, train and deploy at home and overseas, providing services such as accommodation and infrastructure for military personnel and their families.

However, the organisation is now looking to leave the site for one in Whittington, meaning proposals have been submitted for its future use.

The surrounding area has already been converted from military use, with the former St George’s Barracks and the Territorial Army Enclave Site being transformed into homes.

And now it is proposed that the same is done with the DIO building, with the plans including the provision of 35 per cent affordable housing.

Papers from the planning committee state: “The proposed development would seek to achieve a maximum of 135 dwellings on the application site, with 35 per cent of the proposed dwellings comprising affordable housing to be delivered on site.

“The majority of houses would be two or two and a half storey, though it is considered there is potentially scope for three storey development, given the built form currently present at the site.

“It is anticipated at this stage the mix would consist of one and two bedroom apartments; and two, three and four bedroom houses.”

Nine objections have been received to the proposals, with concerns including the type of housing proposed, the potential increase in traffic to the site and the impact on local amenities such as schools and GPs.

However the council’s planning committee have recommended the plans for approval nonetheless, with councillors set to make a decision on the site next Thursday.