Military civilian integration programme

The Big Picture

The significant military presence in Wiltshire is changing. The development of Britain’s first ‘Super Garrison’ in the Salisbury Plain area, change of use of RAF Lyneham, and other planned changes by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) will have far reaching implications for local communities across the county for the foreseeable future.

Why do we need a Military Civilian Integration Programme?

Although there is an awareness of these military changes taking place, Wiltshire Council and partners need to quantify what this means in terms of infrastructure, services and economic activity in the county. Therefore, the Military Civilian Integration (MCI) Programme was set up in 2007 to shape and positively influence these changes, where possible.

Wiltshire Council working with Headquarters 43 (Wessex) Brigade needs to become more agile in its responses to these military changes, providing leadership to strategic partners to ensure that the county develops as a sustainable community for all of its citizens.

What’s the aim of the programme?

The aim of the MCI Programme is to optimise the economic and social benefits of the military presence in the county with acceptable environmental impact in order to contribute to ‘improving life in Wiltshire’. The programme has 5 main objectives:

To identify the changing military ‘footprint’ in the county
To quantify the economic contribution of the military to the county, and the South West region
To enable the realignment of service provision to meet the changing needs of the military and their dependants
To spot opportunities for regeneration and building sustainable communities in the Salisbury Plain area
To ensure the county continues to remain an attractive location for long-term investment by the MoD

What’s happening and when?

Salisbury Plain Super Garrison: The Salisbury Plain Super Garrison (SPSG) Project is the ‘core’ project within the programme and focuses on the plans for MoD usage of the Salisbury Plain Training Area. There will be significant investment in infrastructure and increases in the numbers of soldiers based in the county from now onwards.
Regeneration & Building Sustainable Communities Project: This project is undertaking 2 tasks; first, to identify suitable sites for over 900 homes working with Defence Estates, second, to identify the wider benefits that could arise from the sustainable growth of military settlements as more balanced communities, involving more substantial re-development and regeneration starting in Bulford, Larkhill and Tidworth.
South West Research Project: The South West of England Regional Development Agency (SWRDA) has commissioned Wiltshire Council to undertake research to recommend actions that will maximise local economic and employment opportunities and prospects in those areas with a military presence. The project is designed to build up a comprehensive picture of the impact of the military on the economy within the region and the report will be published in early 2009.
Wiltshire Research Project – Envisioning the Future: The Wiltshire Research Project will identify current issues that exist in Wiltshire’s communities where there is a military presence. The report will be published in early 2009.
Attitudinal Sampling Project: This project will provide a better understanding of civilian attitudes towards the military using the council’s regular survey of public opinion, The People’s Voice citizens panel (3,800 adult residents). The first survey was carried out in May 2008.
Lessons Learned Project: The aim of this project, carried out by the Tidworth Development Trust, was to catalogue research, reports, projects, and programmes that have been undertaken in Wiltshire and elsewhere. The project was completed in March 2008.
Impact of the Military on the Agricultural Sector Project: The aim of this project, carried out by ADAS UK Ltd, was to identify the impact of changes in the military population, activities and land and airspace utilisation on the countryside and land-based sector in Wiltshire. The project was completed in May 2008.

Who’s doing what?

A consortium led by Wiltshire Council and Headquarters 43 (Wessex) Brigade is delivering the MCI Programme. The Sponsoring Group, which meets about every 6 weeks, provides strategic direction and guidance to the MCI Programme Manager.

Wiltshire Council is the ‘Senior Responsible Owner’ on the Sponsoring Group which includes: Headquarters 43 (Wessex) Brigade, Defence Estates, SWRDA, council representatives at Cabinet Member and Chief Executive level, and representatives from the Wessex Association of Chambers of Commerce (private sector) and Community First (voluntary sector) in Wiltshire.

MCI Programme - Fact File

Currently, around 15,000 military personnel and an estimated 16,000 dependants are based in Wiltshire
The military is the biggest employer in Wiltshire
Many more jobs are ‘defence dependent’ (MoD agency staff, MoD Civil Servants and defence contractors)
The spending power of military personnel is worth around £400m pa to the economy
The development of the Salisbury Plain Super Garrison and other military sites will attract multi-million pound investment into the county
The RAF will withdraw from Lyneham, although another Defence use for the site is being considered
Military changes are most likely to impact on communities in Amesbury, Bulford, Chippenham, Corsham, Salisbury, Tidworth, and Wilton
Around 1,000 young people are members of the cadet forces in Wiltshire
MoD makes a significant contribution towards conservation and environmental protection in Wiltshire

MCI-related information on the internet

Further Information

For further information, please contact: Ian Cambrook, MCI Programme Manager, Pidela Consulting: ian.cambrook@googlemail.com

Last updated: 10 July 2009