The redevelopment of St George's Barracks to provide local homes has moved a step closer after government support was published.

The Ministry of Defence's estates department, the DIO, (Defence Infrastructure Organisation) has produced information to support Rutland County Council's application to include St George's Barracks in its Draft Local Plan.

St George's Barracks is due to close in 2021/22 and is set to be transformed into a new Garden Community to include 2,215 homes, space for new businesses, a new primary school, healthcare facilities and a country park.

It secured a slice of £3m funding to help shape proposals in June from the govenment's garden communities fund.

The new documents, which are now available to view on the St George's website, outline the viability of the site's redevelopment and include a masterplan, environmental assessments, a survey of the site's minerals, information on education provision and a heritage assessment.

Catherine Davies, Head of Estates at the Defence Infrastructure Organisation, said: "We have undertaken a lot of work to assess the viability of the St. George's site and demonstrate that to Rutland County Council as part of their Local Plan process.

"We have published these documents so that residents and stakeholders have the opportunity to review and understand the evidence base that sits behind the site being put forward for redevelopment."

Rutland County Council is now reviewing the documents in advance of making a decision on whether the site is viable to be included in the Draft Local Plan. A decision is expected to be made later this year.

Following its successful bid for Garden Communities funding, the project is also awaiting the outcome of its bid for £30million to the national Housing Infrastructure Fund (HIF).

To view the documents and to find out more about the St. George's development click below