In response to the successful seminar in Winchester on MOD sites, the Civic Trust, our parent body, has proposed that Heritage Link, the joint body of heritage organisations, should pursue the cause - and possible changes to the rules under which defence sites are used.

The Ministry of Defence - one of the largest landowners in the UK - is selling off its unwanted sites, large and small, in what Giles Worsley called "the greatest exchange of property since the dissolution of the monasteries", in response to defence cuts, joint tri-service facilities and the need for rapid response teams rather than the vast fixed encampments of the Cold War.

The South East is probably disproportionately affected because of its proximity to the old enemies! The scale of the sale is huge: it was expected to raise £100 million in 1996, this year the 56 sites going through the process are expected to raise a similar amount, and the Treasury expects the MOD to generate no less than £500 million over the next three years

Disposal system

The disposal system is controlled by the 1992 Treasury rules - disposal to the highest bidder, at maximum planning value, within three years - with slightly lower prices and longer timescales for historic sites according to 1999 DCMS guidelines. The MOD controls disposals through its own agency, Defence Estates, and the early stages are secret: choosing the highest value land uses and short listing developers is done in house, with local authority planners only becoming involved via the Local Plan. Unlike other countries such as the US, France and Sweden where raising money is not the priority, this system has no remit to help local communities affected by defence cuts or to target urban or rural reconstruction.

First seminar

The Civic Trust South East held its first event in Winchester, a seminar to investigate how this process is affecting our region, organised by society chair, Celia Clark. The lessons from the four case studies - and other sites identified in the survey of civic societies in the region - highlighted the greater public expectations from sales of public land, compared with civilian redevelopments, which are not often met.

Case studies

Farnborough's Royal Aircraft Establishment is of world importance to the history of flight and the development of aviation – from manpowered kites to carbon fibre – but the future of its extraordinary buildings such as the balloon shed and wind tunnels was treated as a local rather than a national case. The local trust proposed that there should be a robust, transparent and accountable selection process for the developer, with the DCMS and English Heritage involved in approving development briefs and Section 106 agreements.

Ashford's Templar Barracks showed what is gained by long term community input into design of new developments, funded by the developer.

Independent historical research on the Royal Clarence Victualling Yard strengthened Gosport Borough Council's arm to retain more historic fabric; a community planning event also gave local people a chance to offer creative ideas for reuse. In Caterham, this process reached a higher gear: the local authority declared the barracks a conservation area and identified that low density with reuse of most standing buildings was the preferred option. A community trust now runs community facilities and is working to provide new jobs and sustainable transport via a commuter bus.

If other regions are similarly affected by defence sales, or if the South East region has the most sites being sold, the changes to the current system endorsed by those who came to the seminar (more detail on the Trust's website) should be taken forward for national discussion.

Celia Clark