The human version (we wrote this, not the council)
This section introduces Northwood Headquarters, a major military command centre in the district. It serves as both a national and NATO operational headquarters and is the UK's principal military headquarters site, home to five operational headquarters. The site was rebuilt between 2006 and 2011 as a purpose-built base for 2,000 personnel. The section leads into policy NH1, which supports development that sustains the site's operational capability.
An unofficial plain English summary. The official wording below is
what counts at examination; check it before you rely on anything here.
The text below is extracted automatically from the official PDF and may
contain artefacts; the PDF is authoritative.
14 Northwood Headquarters
Northwood Headquarters (MOD)
14.1 Northwood Headquarters is a major military command centre, serving as both a
national and NATO operational headquarters. It is the UK’s principal
military headquarters site, home to 5 Operational Headquarters. The site was rebuilt
between 2006 -2011, resulting in a purpose-built Headquarter site for 2,000
personnel.
NH1 - Northwood Headquarters (MOD)
1) New development at Northwood Headquarters that helps to enhance or
sustain its operational capability will be supported.
2) Redevelopment, conversion and change of use of redundant MOD sites
and buildings will be supported.
3) Non-military or non-defence related development within or in the areas
around the Northwood Headquarters site will not be supported where it
would adversely affect military operations or capability, unless the effect is
suitably mitigated against or it can be demonstrated that there is no longer
a defence or military need for the site.
Reasoned Justification:
14.2 National planning policy requires planning policies to take into account defence
requirements by recognising and supporting development required for operational
defence and security purposes and ensuring that operational sites are not affected
adversely by the impact of other development proposed in the area.
14.3 Northwood Headquarters is identified as a significant defence asset where additional
development is envisaged to support National Security needs.
14.4 Due to the need for operational secrecy, the evidence provided by the Ministry of
Defence of the national security impact of development may be more limited than for
other consultees. This council recognises this and will defer whenever possible to
representations from the Ministry of Defence regarding the national security impact
of development.