As early as 1912 it was realised that both the Lodge Hill and Chattenden Magazines were vulnerable to air attack. Despite this, they both continued to be used for ammunition storage through both World Wars, until 1961, when the site was used as barracks and a training facility for the Royal School of Military Engineering. The Joint Service Bomb Disposal School moved there in 1966.
Chattenden and Lodge Hill Training Areas continued to be used into the 21st century, preparing personnel for active service in Iraq and Afghanistan. In 2007 the MOD designated the military sites as a brownfield area for redevelopment. As part of a Government initiative to sell of 30% of MOD land, to raise £1 billion, Chattenden Barracks along with 11 other sites were put up for sale. A plan had been worked up for 5000 houses to be built on the site although concerns about nature halted these plans. Lodge Hill is home to 85 singing male nightingales, which is a significant amount of the entire UK population which stands at 6000. Natural England declared this a Site of Special Scientific Interest and in 2016 the MOD put the Lodge Hill and Chattenden site up for sale.
Chattenden and Lodge Hill Training Areas continued to be used into the 21st century, preparing personnel for active service in Iraq and Afghanistan. In 2007 the MOD designated the military sites as a brownfield area for redevelopment. As part of a Government initiative to sell of 30% of MOD land, to raise £1 billion, Chattenden Barracks along with 11 other sites were put up for sale. A plan had been worked up for 5000 houses to be built on the site although concerns about nature halted these plans. Lodge Hill is home to 85 singing male nightingales, which is a significant amount of the entire UK population which stands at 6000. Natural England declared this a Site of Special Scientific Interest and in 2016 the MOD put the Lodge Hill and Chattenden site up for sale.
