Plans for a National Tartan Centre

[figheadair]

Jock, I think you'll find that Fort George will remain as part of the military estate for the foreseeable future.

Would I prefer that the NTC was in the Highland, absolutely. What's required? Central funding for the purchase and build of the Centre in a preferred location and a guaranteed 10+ funding package to meet the staff and running costs, including day to day enquiries and deeper research, irrespective of visitor income. Is that going to happen? Unfortunately not IMO and experience.

Just heard that both Fort George and Redford Barracks in Edinburgh are to be disposed of by the MOD. Very surprised by both. It will be interesting to see how the Tattoo deals with the loss of RCB which is where they put up all the performers.

[Jock Scot]

I think that I heard that Fort George was not due to close until 2030, or so. I did not catch the closure date for Redford.

[figheadair]

I think that I heard that Fort George was not due to close until 2030, or so. I did not catch the closure date for Redford.

Yes, the plans announced today go out to 2040. All told there are eight sites in Scotland:

Fort George
Glencorse Barracks
Redford Cavalry and Infantry Barracks (presumably counts as two sites)
Craigiehall Barracks
Forthside Barracks
HMS Caledonia (Rosyth)
Condor Airfield, near Arbroath

Not sure where they are going to put a Brigade HQ or a second infantry battalion., assuming they stay of course.

[The Q]

Depending on which paper you read there are, 50 or 91 or 97 Ministry of Defence sites to close across the UK a quite a few are historic so selling them with no doubt listed planning restrictions will be interesting.

The Scottish closing dates for the main bases are
Meadowforth Barracks - 2022, Redford Cavalry Barracks - 2022, Redford Infantry Barracks - 2022, Fort George - 2032, Glencorse Barracks - 2032, MoD Caledonia - 2022, Forthside Stirling - 2022, Craigiehall Scottish Army HQ - 2018.

Those bases near / in major cities weill sell easily, but a historic site like Fort George is too far out from cities and restrictive for property developers. It's a very large site without a huge community to use the base as a museum economically without government (Scottish or UK) subsidies.

[figheadair]

Depending on which paper you read there are, 50 or 91 or 97 Ministry of Defence sites to close across the UK a quite a few are historic so selling them with no doubt listed planning restrictions will be interesting.

The Scottish closing dates for the main bases are
Meadowforth Barracks - 2022, Redford Cavalry Barracks - 2022, Redford Infantry Barracks - 2022, Fort George - 2032, Glencorse Barracks - 2032, MoD Caledonia - 2022, Forthside Stirling - 2022, Craigiehall Scottish Army HQ - 2018.

Both Fort George and Redford Cavalry Barracks are Grade A listed, as is the Officers' Mess at Craigiehall, so whatever happens they cannot be developed in the way that the papers suggest. Fort George is already controlled by Historic Scotland and I'd have thought they and/or the NTS or some such will end up running it in the same way as Edinburgh and Stirling Castles are now.

To bring this back on topic, the release of Forthside and the re-development of the area as part of the Stirling Plan is where the NTC is expected to be included.