In addition, a bespoke Q&A has been prepared which addresses questions raised in feedback forms submitted following the public exhibitions held in July 2008. Those questions which address issues of general interest have been incorporated below. To view a copy of this Q&A click here.

What will be delivered?
The redevelopment will chiefly consist of a new Defence Technical College, with associated housing and facilities, and an Aerospace Business Park.

With a commitment to technological innovation and a dynamic approach to training delivery the Defence Technical College will provide training for up to 4,500 students and trainers at any one time specialising in aeronautical and electro mechanical engineering, and communications/IT disciplines. The Aerospace Business Park will attract businesses involved in both civilian and military work and will further strengthen the region’s existing track record in aerospace expertise.

Who will deliver the project?
The redevelopment of MOD St Athan brings together a number of parties, primarily Metrix, the Welsh Assembly Government and the MOD.

In 2007, the Secretary of State for Defence announced that the Metrix Consortium had been selected as the MOD’s Preferred Bidder for the delivery of the Defence Technical College. Metrix, a special purpose company that is a 50/50 joint venture between the defence and technology research group QinetiQ and Sodexo which has considerable experience of delivering projects of this scope and scale and working as a partner with the MOD, brings together extensive experience in delivering projects of this scope and scale.

The redevelopment of St Athan is being undertaken in partnership with the Welsh Assembly Government, which is promoting the development of the Aerospace Business Park and providing major new infrastructure for the entire development.

Why do we need to redevelop St Athan?
The St Athan site was purchased by the Welsh Assembly Government, then the Welsh Development Agency, with a view to developing an Aerospace Business Park. Since then, the site has been identified as a potential site for the Defence Technical College which is complementary to the Aerospace Business Park.

Currently, specialist training in aeronautical, electro mechanical engineering and communication/IT disciplines takes place at nine different sites across the UK producing some of the world’s best trained military personnel. The Metrix vision will see the Defence Technical College building on this success by creating a single training facility of international standing.

The Defence Technical College will bring training, for each of the services; Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force, together in one location for the first time. The benefits of this are considerable and will ensure that UK military personnel continue to receive the very best training available, whilst bringing together each of the services in one location will mean further benefits in terms of efficiency and shared learning.

Furthermore, the existing site, specifically East Camp, is currently under utilised with many of the buildings at the end of their economic life or in need of significant investment.

St Athan is also a strategically important asset with an operational runway and as part of the Welsh Assembly Government’s support programme for the aerospace sector is being developed as an Aerospace Business Park. Commercial interest from aerospace companies in St Athan remains strong. Recent new tenants include Britten Norman and Bond Air Services.

The Welsh Assembly Government sees the development of an aerospace centre of excellence at St Athan as crucial to maintaining the existing South and South-East Wales aerospace cluster. The Aerospace Business Park proposals take advantage of the skilled workforce in the area and will complement the Defence Technical College, which in turn will bring long-term additional economic benefits for South Wales.

Who will consider the planning application for the redevelopment of St Athan?
The planning applications for the provision of the Defence Technical College and Aerospace Business Park are being considered by the Vale of Glamorgan Council.

When will the development begin?
The planning applications for the Defence Technical College and Aerospace Business Park were submitted to the Vale of Glamorgan Council in May 2009.

If the planning applications are approved, and following financial close, construction work could start in early 2010 with completion of the Technical College by 2014. The ABP is a long term project which will be developed over a period of 5 to 20 years. It will be constructed in three phases to gradually convert existing buildings into new or upgraded hanger space.

How much will the construction of the Defence Technical College cost?
The development of the Defence Technical College will be one of the largest Private Finance Initiative (PFI) contracts to date with a value of approximately £12 billion. This value includes the construction and ongoing running of the Academy. The cost of construction of the estate at St Athan will be approximately £700m.

What will the Aerospace Business Park comprise?
Part of the existing airfield site will be redeveloped as an Aerospace Business Park, which will accommodate a number of businesses primarily engaged in commercial and military aerospace activities.

The Aerospace Business Park will complement the training academy as well as becoming a centre for excellence in its own right building upon South Wales’ existing aerospace expertise.

How will the construction process be managed?
A number of measures would be introduced to ensure that any disruption to the local community during construction is kept to a minimum. These include minimising any construction traffic at night and only using specified, pre-agreed routes into the site.

How can businesses become involved with the redevelopment of St Athan?
The St Athan team is already engaged in discussions with a number of local and regional suppliers and would be pleased to hear from any business that feels it has an offering that would be beneficial in the redevelopment of St Athan – see contact details below.

Can you provide projected job creation figures for
the Defence Technical College and Aerospace Business Park?
At this relatively early stage in the project, it is very difficult for us to give specific details of the types and number of jobs to be created by the Defence Technical College - for example, until we are in a position to ask, we will not know how many existing MOD employees will relocate to St Athan. However, the total figure is likely to be some thousands including existing MOD employees who transfer to St Athan and jobs created locally. In addition, the Welsh Assembly Government believes that the Aerospace Business Park has the potential to create around 2,000 jobs.

How is public transport provision being considered?
A full transport assessment will be undertaken to assess the likely need for any enhancements to the existing public transport network and ensure appropriate provision is made.

WAG is working with all partners to ensure that public transport needs are addressed in an integrated way.

Is there a possibility of a train station at St Athan?
The possibility of reinstating St Athan train station has been considered. However, because the distance from the old St Athan station to the proposed main entrance to the Defence Technical College is the same as the distance from Llantwit Major station to the proposed main entrance, it is felt that Llantwit Major is the best placed local station to serve the site.

In addition, it would be unlikely that an additional station would be supported by Network Rail or the Train Operating Companies without the closure of an existing station on the line. The stations at Rhoose and Llantwit Major are not suitable candidates for closure.

To support the potential increase in numbers using the train to reach the Defence Technical College and Aerospace Business Park, there are plans to increase the frequency of trains to and from Llantwit Major station. This could be supported by the provision of a shuttle bus service between Llantwit Major station and the site.

What are the proposals for the Green Travel Plan?
A Green Travel Plan was developed and submitted with the planning application in May 2009. This includes a number of measures to reduce car usage, such as encouraging site personnel to use public transport.

What is being done to preserve the local ecology of the site and the surrounding area?
Ecological surveys are being carried out to establish what species and habitats are found on the St Athan site and all of the off site areas where changes will also be made - such as new roads, pipelines and training areas.

We will also use existing information from local records to understand the ecology of the local area. The information is used to help in the design of the site so that it takes into account the need to avoid effects on wildlife. Where this is not possible, we will look at ways of reducing these effects by, for example, creating suitable alternative habitats away from the site to replace any areas that will be permanently lost. A series of new ponds have already been created in advance of the development to allow them time to mature before any work starts on site.

What other measures will be taken to minimise environmental impact?
An Environmental Statement was prepared and submitted as part of the planning applications for the development. We consulted with environmental organisations such as the Countryside Council for Wales and the Environment Agency as we developed the design and environmental studies.

The developers intend to build a high quality development, with appropriate landscaping, in keeping with the character of the location and which will be taken forward, as far as possible, on sustainable development principles. To help meet energy needs in a sustainable manner, the proposed development will include an Energy Centre incorporating a bio-mass generator that would be fuelled in part by wood chips, reducing carbon emissions for the Technical College by between 30 and 60 per cent per annum.

In addition to this, a series of environmental policies will be adopted, with one of the most comprehensive recycling and composting schemes of any modern development. On site water retention will be introduced to control surface run-off and a waste minimisation strategy will see rubble from the demolition phase being re-used as building materials and in the landscaping of the site.

Is there any protected wildlife on site? If so what will be done to relocate it safely?
There are populations of protected species on the site, for example, great crested newts and bats. Any relocation would be done under a licence following consultation with the relevant authority such as the Countryside Council for Wales.

Retail, leisure, medical, sports and recreational facilities will be provided for site personnel to ensure that no additional burden is placed on existing services within the community. In addition, it is anticipated that some of these facilities will be made available to the public at certain times.

Will any housing be provided to cope with the increased population of non-service personnel moving to the area for employment?
There are currently no specific plans to provide additional housing for non-military personnel working at the Defence Technical College or Aerospace Business Park. The need for any additional provision will be assessed by the Vale of Glamorgan Council as art of the normal development planning process. In addition, WAG carries out annual studies to ensure that there is a continual five year supply of housing.

What happens next?
The planning applications for the Defence Technical College (DTC) and Aerospace Business Park (ABP) were submitted to the Vale of Glamorgan Council in May 2009. As part of the statutory process, the Council will undertake a comprehensive, 16 week study of the proposals incorporating further public consultation during which the local community and stakeholders will be invited to give feedback on the plans direct to the Council. A decision on the planning applications, to be made by the Council’s Planning Committee, is expected during September 09.

If the planning applications are approved, and following financial close, construction work for the DTC could start in early 2010 with completion of the College by 2014. The ABP is a long term project which will be developed over a period of 5 to 20 years. It will be constructed in three phases to gradually convert existing buildings into new or upgraded hanger space.

How can the public get involved?
Following submission of the planning applications in May 2009, the Vale of Glamorgan Council will be inviting the local community and stakeholders to give feedback on the plans direct to the Council. Please see the Council’s website for more details.