The Ministry of Defence has applied for temporary planning permission to site modular cabins at West Camp on the Isle of Benbecula, as preparations continue for NATO’s Formidable Shield live-fire military exercise, due to return to Hebridean waters in 2027.
What the MoD wants to build
The application, which is with Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, seeks one year’s permission for a mixed-use building providing welfare, meeting, reception and security facilities for the exercise.
According to the plans, the building would include a dining area, kitchen, bar servery and seating area, WCs, meeting rooms, a TV room and a reception and security check. Three detached units would also be provided, serving as a gym, laundry and induction building.
The facilities would support a separate proposed temporary accommodation project at the camp.
About the exercise
NATO describes Formidable Shield as the largest live-fire naval exercise in Europe. It focuses on integrated air and missile defence, as well as the ability of allied navies, air forces and ground units to operate together.
Previous exercises have been led by the US Sixth Fleet with Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO, and have been held every two years since 2015, split between the Andøya range in Norway and the Hebrides Range.
The 2025 exercise involved around 6,900 personnel, more than 16 ships and 27 aircraft from allied nations.
Benbecula and the Hebrides Range
MOD Hebrides is operated by QinetiQ under its Long Term Partnering Agreement with the Ministry of Defence, with sites on South Uist, Benbecula and St Kilda.
During the 2025 exercise, the range was extended to a managed battlespace of 1.1 million square kilometres, four times the size of the UK.