RAF Mildenhall and RAF Lakenheath FAQS

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Changes

What are the changes for RAF Lakenheath?

On 8 January 2015, the U.S. Dept of Defense announced that RAF Lakenheath is to expand with new jets and additional personnel.

The first F-35A is expected at RAF Lakenheath in 2021. The major infrastructure development at RAF Lakenheath is expected to start in 2018.

The U.S. Defense Department will be investing a minimum of $285million (£230.3million) in infrastructure construction at RAF Lakenheath to support the F-35A. Forest Heath’s Planning and Growth team will be involved as the USAF develops their construction plans.

What are the changes for RAF Mildenhall?

The U.S. Dept of Defense also announced on 8 January 2015 that following a strategic review of its European wide deployment it would be closing the RAF Mildenhall base no earlier than 2023.

The U.S. Office of the Secretary of Defense has indicated that the withdrawal from RAF Mildenhall will begin no earlier than 2019 and is expected to complete by the end of 2023; this is dependent on the timelines for the construction of facilities to house the departing units at their receiving bases. To date, no details as to how this is to be phased have been published.

In November 2016 the MoD announced that following a review of all of its estate, RAF Mildenhall would not be required for British military use after the USVF leave in 2023. The MoD announcement included a commitment to work with those local authorities impacted by the decision and to focus on the significant long-term potential for economic growth that can be achieved by enabling the use of vacant Defence sites for either commercial or residential purposes. https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/ 576401/Better_Defence_Estate_Dec16_Amends_Web.pdf

So how many jobs will be lost? As a result of one base closing and the other expanding there could be a net loss of around 2,000 on-base jobs. It is believed that around 300 of these are UK civilians jobs.

What if?

What if Donald Trump overturns the decision to cease US Military operations at the Mildenhall base? And what about the U.S Defense Bill which bars the closure of military bases?

There is lots of speculation, we have to prepare on the basis of what we currently know which is that US Military operations at the base are scheduled to withdraw by 2023.

What are the options for the site?

Who owns the RAF Mildenhall base?

Both bases, RAF Mildenhall and Lakenheath are owned by the Ministry of Defence (MoD).

It is likely to be heavily contaminated land - who is liable for the clean up of the site?

The MoD as site owners, will carry out all the necessary land quality survey work and determine the appropriate clean up and/or management strategies accordingly.

What is the Council doing?

Through the Government’s One Public Estate programme, Forest Heath District Council secured £230,000 towards a project that will help to shape the future of Mildenhall.

Building on feedback from engagement sessions with local communities and businesses, Forest Heath District Council used part of this funding to commission a study of the potential future uses of the RAF Mildenhall site and to develop a prospectus outlining a new vision for the site.

In November 2016 Forest Heath Full Council approved the Prospectus with an ambition to create

o 2000 jobs o 2000 homes o £70-100m GVA

The Council now has an agreement in place to work with both the MoD and the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) to build on these ambitions and further investigate what can actually be delivered on this site. This will eventually lead to the creation of a draft masterplan which will then go out to public consultation. No time scales can be given however, as to when this will take place, as there is a lot more work that will need to be done first.

But hasn’t the MoD now decided that RAF Mildenhall should be all housing?

No, the MoD did announce on 18 January 2016 that the site had potential to provide up to 4,000 new homes, but no planning discussions have taken place at this stage. The strategic nature of the site will require a mixed use development scheme. It will be the responsibility of the future owners of the site to secure the necessary detailed planning consents from Forest Heath District Council.

The Council has been working with its local residents and businesses ever since the closure announcement was made. We, on behalf of our communities, have consistently argued that any future use of the site has to be one that meets local needs – and that is not about simply selling off land for housing. We need to be replacing jobs with jobs. The simple truth is that to impose houses here without much needed infrastructure and without new employment is an injustice for our local communities. MoD has confirmed that a master plan would be developed for the site addressing both jobs and housing.

So what would FHDC do if the MoD released the base?

The closure of RAF Mildenhall together with the expansion of RAF Lakenheath could result in a net loss of 2000 on-base jobs. There are a multitude of opportunities for the site to be brought forward for economic regeneration, creating new job opportunities and with it shaping the future prosperity of not just Mildenhall but the surrounding area as well. The £120m dualling of the A11, linking Norwich to Cambridge and London creates a corridor for economic growth. Cambridge’s science and innovation sector is bursting at the seams.

What about making it a civilian or freight airport?

The Government has indicated that RAF Mildenhall will not be considered as part of its plans for the future of air transport in the UK.

We have also had both of these airport options independently assessed by an aviation consultant and it concluded that even with predicted growth figures, neither a civilian nor a freight airport would be viable. The potential for an aviation related use, however, still needs investigating in more detail. The study that Forest Heath commissioned into the potential future uses of the RAF Mildenhall site concluded that there is potential for a mixed use development. This was presented as a prospectus and includes around 2,000 new homes, the expansion of the existing industrial estate creating 800 new jobs, plus the possibility of an aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) operation which could create around 1200 high skilled jobs. The prospectus adds that the airfield, supporting infrastructure and at least 200 acres should be protected while detailed business planning for the MRO and discussions with aviation operators take place.

Decision making

So what are we waiting for?

The programme for the USVF withdrawal has yet to be confirmed and it is unlikely that any parts of the site will be released before 2023. The prospectus will now form part of the evidence for discussion with the Government over the future use of RAF Mildenhall, and the necessary investment in infrastructure – roads, schools and health – required to enable any of this to take place.

But surely there’s no rush if we have until after 2020 until RAF Lakenheath expands and RAF Mildenhall closes three years after?

Yes and no. Yes the changes are not immediate or overnight so we have time to prepare for them. But equally we need to be using that time to prepare. There will be changes to local infrastructure – roads, schools, GPs surgeries, hospitals and more. So we are busy working now not only to understand the implications of the RAF Lakenheath expansion, but also for on whatever development may take place on the RAF Mildenhall site.

Why should the MoD listen to the council and its local communities?

The Government has already given £230,000 to Forest Heath towards a project that will help to shape the future of RAF Mildenhall. Part of this money is toward working up a fully developed viable plan for the future of the site, for when the USVF leave. We are best placed to lead on the future regeneration of this site by, on the one hand working with our local residents and businesses and on the other our partners including our MP, Suffolk County Council, Local Enterprise Partnerships, Chamber of Commerce, the MoD and the USVF.

But surely the MoD announcement solves all the housing issues surrounding the local plan?

Any redevelopment at RAF Mildenhall will be subject to a masterplan, public consultation and a planning application determined by the District Council. Although the MoD has identified that all of the site should be released, this cannot be taken into consideration as available and deliverable for this Local Plan period (2011-2031). It is not appropriate for the RAF Mildenhall airbase to be allocated as a site for growth until there is certainty regarding future use and any planning constraints. Once there is this certainty, a review of the Local Plan will be completed.

Where can I get more information?

The MoD announcement can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/defence-minister-mark-lancaster- announces-release-of-mod-sites-for-development

We also regularly update a webpage at: www.westsuffolk.gov.uk/MALAG