Housing plan for Officers’ Mess at St George’s Barracks in Edith Weston put on hold after council defers its decision

Plans to demolish historic military buildings to make way for new homes have been put on hold.

Councillors met this week to discuss an application put forward by the Ministry of Defence to develop the Officers’ Mess site at St George’s Barracks in Edith Weston.

The MoD’s overall aim is to build up to 85 new homes on the site – some earmarked as affordable homes – plus a small shop and open spaces.

After hearing concerns from residents and sharing their own views, Rutland County Council’s planning committee members were unable to make a decision on whether or not to grant planning permission.

Instead they agreed to defer the decision and go back to the applicant to ask whether a second access point and pedestrian crossing can be included in the plan. Councillors also want the number of properties to be reduced.

Ward member for Edith Weston, Gale Waller (Lib Dem) said: “From my point of view deferral was the right decision because there are issues which need to be sorted out and this gives us some breathing space.

“The Edith Weston Neighbourhood Plan, which was approved by cabinet for consultation last week, states that the Officers’ Mess is a site for development, but the village has views on how that should be done.”

The plan specifies that any development should complement the existing village and asks that mature trees and hedges along Manton Road and Edith Weston Road are retained. Pedestrian and cycle links to the rest of the village are also a priority.

The application site contains a number of buildings including the main Officers’ Mess and original accommodation blocks, newer accommodation blocks, garages and a language school. There is also an open space and disused tennis court.

During Tuesday’s planning meeting, former RAF officer Gareth Jones called for the site’s history to be protected. He said: “There are 82 years of military history within the site. The building is where airmen did incredible things for us and our freedom.

“Many of them had their last supper in the mess.”

When asked what he thinks should be done with the building, Mr Jones suggested it would be better used as a school or medical practice.

The council had received 53 other objections from members of the public ahead of the meeting with only one response submitted in support of the plan.

Council officers will now liaise with the Ministry of Defence regarding the committee’s requests and the application will be discussed again at a future meeting.

It would have provided homes ranging from one-bedroom flats to four-bedroom houses.