Porton Down is seeking approval to build an additional magazine storage facility on 32 hectares of land adjacent to Porton Down SSSI. [1] The site is located near existing facilities and buildings to minimize safety risks. [2] A 2006 feasibility study found it to be the only suitable location. [3] The facility will include 17 specialized storage structures surrounded by security measures like fencing and CCTV. Landscaping will enhance habitats while maintaining an open aspect.

1. Porton Down
Additional Magazine Storage Facility

2. Location - adjacent to Porton Down SSSI
Porton Down is a Site
of Special Scientific
Interest (SSSI) notified
under the 1981 Wildlife
and Countryside Act
and covers about 1200
hectares.
It constitutes the largest
uninterrupted tract of
semi-natural chalk
grassland in Britain, a
habitat which
elsewhere has declined
by more than 80% in
the last 50 years.
Site Location
As well as the
grassland there are
areas of juniper scrub
and of broadleaved,
mixed and coniferous
woodland.

3. 32 Ha of existing arable / pasture land, adjacent to Porton Down SSSI, - areas 7 & 8, SAC and SPA

4. Stone-curlews nest on open, bare
ground or in areas with vegetation
height below 2 cm.
Stone Curlew nesting sites
2010 – nearest to site is
250m to north east.
It is a medium-sized wader with a strong
yellow and black beak, large yellow eyes and
cryptic plumage. The bird is striking in
flight, with black and white wing markings.
Despite being classed as a wader, this
species prefers dry open habitats with some
bare ground. It is largely nocturnal. Food
consists of insects and other small
invertebrates. It lays 2-3 eggs in a narrow Stone Curlew Burhinus oedicnemus
scrape in the ground.

5. Need – “H&S imperative” Alternatives – “none”
Need:
Local, safe, sufficient
and secure storage
explosives materials.
Alternatives:
Feasibility study
identified none.
Total storage quantity
reduced and design
altered to fit site.
Alternatives: Dstl Porton Down, although 7000 acres, is limited to approx 800 acres of potential development land as approx
2/3rds of the site is designated as an SSSI/SAC/SPA.
The location of the new additional magazine storage facility in relation to other facilities/buildings within the site has to be
taken into consideration such that they and the personnel within them are not put at risk.
In 2006 a Dstl feasibility study was undertaken to review potential sites; the Met Field site was found to be the only suitable
and practicable location.

6. Archaeology

7. Layout
19 separate specialist structures - 17 surrounded by traverses, plus; roadways & tracks, security perimeter fencing &
CCTV, emergency water stores, lorry and car parking, electricity sub station, administration gatehouse, PV array, landscaping
and habitat creation / enhancement.

8. Buildings

11. Landscaping
Traverses towards
south, grass covered.
“Random” scrub and
juniper enhancement.
Open aspect retained.

12. Fences & Traverses

13. Perimeter
security
lighting
& CCTV
Perimeter security lighting
lamps, (90 watt), are
mounted on 8m
poles, within security
fenceline and are
designed to provide;
controlled low
level, minimum even
illuminance, downwards
of just 3 Lux, outside the
fence.
Dark purple line indicates
3 lux level.
CCTV cameras, using
infra red lighting, are
mounted on poles within
security fence - fixed at
50m intervals and mobile
at 100m plus corners.

14. Infrastructure.
Roads, tracks, s
wales and
bund.
Swales, (1m
deep), provide
SUDs and 1 in 30
year flooding
protection.
Bund provides 1 in
100 year flooding
protection.

15. Porton Down
Additional Magazine Storage Facility.
Full – conditional - planning approval
achieved April 2012.
John Wilde ARB RIBA Pg Dip Arch Cons.
Registered and Chartered Architect.
johnwildedesign@gmail.com
07919892135
4 Crestfield Rise Ivybridge Devon. PL21 9TJ