ASCEND (Achieving the Socio-Economic Re-use of Military Land and Heritage) was an exciting European project uniting eight regions that have been affected by cutbacks within their national military forces.

The project, which closed in March 2008, focussed in particular on designing a model management framework for the re-use of redundant military heritage. This contains 28 best practice case study examples that can be used to help regions throughout Europe that are faced with a large-scale military withdrawal. The case study examples are supported by a process model, setting out the key stages of a military regeneration initiative, as defined by ASCEND partners.

Led by Medway Council, ASCEND studied the topic under three component themes:

• converting military heritage sites to civilian use – management mechanisms, land-use planning procedures and community consultation requirements;
• transforming abandoned military built heritage into proven tourism assets;
• establishing former military sites as clusters of knowledge-based economic activity (universities, research and development, small and medium-sized enterprises.

For each partner in ASCEND, military installations and bases have historically been significant contributors to the local economy – both as employers and as consumers of local goods and services. Each partner is at a different stage in the process of managing this major change, so varied view points and perspectives are represented within the framework.

The partners are united in a firm belief, however, that by adopting the right strategy, local and regional authorities can capitalise on their military heritage to generate new economic activity, improve the quality of life for local residents and attract new businesses to the area.

To find out more about each partner, visit www.ascendpartnership.net or contact the Network Co-ordinator using the details below to receive a copy of the framework.