8 hours Ago
An island military base has been granted permission to build three large new accommodation blocks. Chichester District Council has approved plans for the construction of three single-living accommodation buildings at Baker Barracks on Thorney Island. The development will provide 315 single-person accommodation modules, which include bedrooms with en-suite facilities, as well as commercial utility and plant rooms, kitchens, common room/communal areas, and other facilities.
This new construction will result in a net increase of 140 bed spaces, as the proposal also involves decommissioning four existing accommodation blocks that provide lower-grade accommodation. The plan also includes the creation of a 422-space car park. Baker Barracks, a former RAF base covering approximately 48 hectares, has been occupied by the Royal Artillery since 1986.
The military base is situated on the southern portion of Thorney Island, which is a low-lying peninsula extending into Chichester Harbour. Thorney Island is the only location for the Army's ground-based air defence assets, a critical defence capability that is slated for enhancement in the coming years, as outlined in the 2021 Integrated Defence and Security Review and the Future Soldier Plan from November 2021. The poor current state of the base's accommodation has been affecting recruitment and retention, and impacting the ability of the services to deliver operational capability.
The Chichester Council's planning report states: "The accommodation to be replaced as part of this application has been assessed as Grade 4, the lowest grade, in urgent need of being addressed. "Its replacement is necessary in order to protect operational capability and the long-term future of the site as a military base. "It would also safeguard its continuing contribution to the local economy.
" The existing buildings, constructed around the 1940s, are in extremely poor condition and are considered incapable of being viably refurbished. Even if refurbishment were possible, the existing buildings would not accommodate the increase in the number of SLA units, and additional buildings would be required. Baker Barracks' origins trace back to 1938, the year the airfield at Thorney Island was built.
Originally used predominantly by the RAF, the station closed as an RAF airfield in 1976. In 1982, the base was handed over to the Royal Artillery, and in 1986, the 26th Regiment Royal Artillery moved onto the site. The Royal Artillery still controls the base today.
The barracks were recently selected as the main location for the Army’s air defence assets..
