No new homes as MoD make U-turn

Land would have been handed over for around 2,500 houses

Plans to build thousands of new homes on a huge swathe of land at RM Condor as part of the Tay Cities Deal have been ditched.

The Ministry of Defence U-turn comes in the wake of fears that the disposal would undermine the future of the 45 Commando base on the outskirts of Arbroath.

The airfield section of the base was due to be decontaminated by the UK Government and handed over, free of charge, to Angus Council for the construction of around 2,500 homes.

The defence secretary yesterday confirmed the retention of the airfield and the £3m value of the land will now be “reinvested in full in other projects in Tayside”.

Veterans Minister Graeme Dey said he now wants assurances the U-turn “signals a long-term commitment to the future of the marines in Angus”.

Plans to build 2,500 homes on land at an Angus military base have been scrapped.

The Ministry of Defence U-turn comes in the wake of fears the airfield disposal would undermine the future of the 45 Commando base on the outskirts of Arbroath.

The airfield section of the base was due to be decontaminated by the UK Government and handed over, free of charge, to Angus Council for the construction of thousands of new homes.

Defence secretary Gavin Williamson confirmed the airfield’s retention yesterday and the £3 million value of the land will now be “reinvested in full in other projects in Tayside” identified in the Tay Cities Deal.

Mr Williamson credited a campaign by Angus Conservative MP Kirstene Hair as contributing to the decision, and acknowledged the “strength of local feeling” in the area and among 45 Commando personnel.

Ms Hair welcomed the news as a vote of confidence in RM Condor as “a vital component of Britain’s defence”.

She said: “As a constituency MP first and foremost, I will always do my best for the people of Angus. In surveys, a petition and in the street, they told me they want to see the Royal Marines maintained and developed here, where they have been part of the fabric of local life since 1971.”

Veterans Minister and Angus South SNP MSP Graeme Dey welcomed the “victory for common sense” and said the original decision to dispose of the land was “completely illogical and wrong-headed”.

Mr Dey said he would be seeking assurances the decision to retain the airfield “signals a long-term commitment to the future of the marines in Angus, and brings the uncertainty for personnel and their families to an end”.

He said Scottish ministers would be asking the UK Government “how they will address the £3 million resulting shortfall in their contribution to the deal”.

A UK Government spokesman said: “The Ministry of Defence has confirmed it will retain RM Condor in a clear commitment to maintaining a strong defence presence in Scotland.

“The £3 million UK Government funding that was earmarked for the Tay Cities Deal Condor project will be reinvested in full in other projects in Tayside. The UK Government has so far committed £1.3 billion to city and growth deals bringing jobs and development across Scotland.”

Angus Council deputy leader Angus Macmillan Douglas said the UK Government’s decision was a “considerable vote of confidence in Condor”, adding: “We are confident that we will find projects in which to invest the compensatory money when it is provided.”

The Ministry of Defence has confirmed it will retain RM Condor in a clear commitment to maintaining a strong defence presence in Scotland. UK GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN

Picture: Mhairi Edwards. The plan to build thousands of homes on land at RM Condor has been dropped and Gavin Williamson, below, confirmed the airfield will be retained.