Committee publication · Correspondence · 3 February 2026
Email from Ministry of Defence, regarding Protecting built heritage oral evidence follow-up, 28 January 2026
From: Culture, Media and Sport Committee
Inquiry: Protecting built heritage
Summary
The Ministry of Defence responds to the Culture, Media and Sport Committee's follow-up questions on protecting built heritage. The MOD reports spending hundreds of millions on heritage maintenance but cannot itemise it separately; the Conservation Stewardship Fund allocated £3.3 million to heritage and archaeological assets between 2021–2026. The department outlines barriers to accelerating heritage site disposals, including complexity and security constraints, and describes efforts to explore hybrid disposal models and planning reforms to enable heritage asset reuse.
Key findings
- MOD heritage building spending is significant (estimated hundreds of millions) but not separately itemised due to difficulty distinguishing heritage repairs from operational maintenance and commercial sensitivity of ISP cost data.
- Conservation Stewardship Fund allocated £2,051,211 for heritage buildings and £1,231,876 for archaeological assets between 2021–2026.
- Fort Rowner and Fort Blockhouse disposals are delayed by resource constraints, environmental surveys, remediation, utility separation, and security/infrastructure issues within active MOD sites.
- At MOD Shoeburyness, 13 of 16 listed residential properties are occupied or being upgraded; five vacant properties cannot be relet due to Range Danger Areas, ammunition compound safeguards, structural unsoundness, or business unviability.
- MOD proposes planning reforms including simplified consent routes for low-impact works, stronger recognition of long-term viability as heritage benefit, clearer policy for adaptive reuse on operational estates, and relaxed de-listing/demolition tests for MOD assets no longer fit for purpose.
Government position
The MOD acknowledges heritage maintenance challenges and commits to responsible disposal while balancing Defence priorities. It accepts that current planning protections are important but argues they create overly restrictive environments limiting flexibility. The department partially accepts the need for reform, proposing specific planning amendments to enable operational estate optimisation whilst preserving heritage. It is actively exploring alternative disposal models, including partnering approaches with Homes England.
Tone
FactualTopics
Key actors
Ministry of Defence, Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO), Homes England, Industry Service Providers (ISPs), Culture, Media and Sport Committee, Major Sturrock
Notable line
“… heritage assets typically require more specialist input and funding. Disposals also involve complex internal requirements such as environmental surveys, remediation …”
Key Quotes
“Spending on heritage buildings is not itemised separately within the 'Core Works' undertaken by Industry Service Providers (ISPs). This is because it is often challenging to distinguish between repairs specifically for heritage purposes and those required for operational reasons in heritage buildings.”
“Between 2021 and 2026, the MOD Conservation Stewardship Fund allocated: • £2,051,211 for heritage buildings, and • £1,231,876 for archaeological heritage assets.”
“… heritage assets typically require more specialist input and funding. Disposals also involve complex internal requirements such as environmental surveys, remediation, and separating utilities which are more onerous than for private landowners.”
“Current heritage legislation and national planning policy create a highly restrictive environment that makes it difficult for the MOD to adapt, modernise, or repurpose listed buildings.”
“The DIO is committed to exploring and progressing alternative and more collaborative disposal models where a traditional sale route is less likely to meet wider political agendas.”
“Priestwood Farmhouse has been vacant since September 2024, after being returned by the tenant in poor condition. The DIO will continue to maintain the farmhouse in a wind and weather-tight condition.”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗