Homes England has completed the acquisition of Ripon Barracks from the Ministry of Defence (MoD), paving the way for the development of 1,300 new homes on the military site, which is scheduled for closure.

The transformation will create a vibrant new community in North Yorkshire, incorporating natural green spaces, a new primary school, community centre, and retail hub.

The development forms part of a government initiative to accelerate housing delivery on underused public land. In March, Ripon Barracks was selected as a trailblazer site under a new cross-government approach to unlocking MoD-owned land for housing. A dedicated taskforce including the MoD, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, and HM Treasury is spearheading reforms to fast-track planning and development.

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The scheme has progressed through extensive collaboration between Homes England, the MoD, the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO), and the Army Basing and Infrastructure Directorate. The site’s release aligns with the MoD’s Defence Estate Optimisation (DEO) programme, which focuses on modernising defence infrastructure while divesting sites no longer required.

Development will begin in phases, starting with 150 new homes on the currently vacant Deverell Barracks site. Future phases will follow the relocation of the Royal Engineers from Claro Barracks, Laver Banks, and the former Engineering Park to Marne Barracks in Catterick.

Homes England will serve as the master developer, leading the delivery of critical infrastructure such as site-wide drainage and road networks to enable construction. The organisation also plans to reflect the site’s military heritage through careful design and landscaping, integrating historic features like the parade ground layout and original footpaths into the new community.