Ambitious plans to breathe new life into the heart of Catterick Garrison will be completed within two years.
They will provide a wealth of new facilities for the community, including members of one of the largest Army bases in the country.
The £21 million transformation project will see a new town centre created with a community and business skills centre, a town square and improved park facilities as part of the Government’s levelling up initiative to tackle regional inequalities.
North Yorkshire Council will work with the Ministry of Defence (MOD) to bring the proposals to fruition by June 2025. The council have received £19 million from the Levelling Up Fund, with the remaining match-funding coming from the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) and the council.
The four-acre plot around Shute Road, which extends into the neighbouring Coronation Park, will be redeveloped to provide more community facilities, improve pedestrian access and pave the way for further improvements that will deliver extra retail and commercial premises. That in turn will drive further investment into the area and the wider town centre for both the military and civilian communities.
Council leader, Cllr Carl Les, told members of the authority’s executive that agreements for partnership working on the scheme were already being drawn up, and site surveys had been completed.
He said: “This exciting project will transform the current tired centre of Catterick Garrison and greatly improve amenities for the local community. Work will begin early next year with completion by summer 2025.
“It will benefit everyone living and working in communities around the garrison, as well as the service personnel and their families who are stationed at Catterick and who play a vital role in the life of our county.”
Catterick Garrison is home to one of the largest Army bases in the country with the town centre transformation bringing benefits to Armed Forces personnel and their families.
North Yorkshire has a proud history associated with the military dating back more than a century. There are 10,770 military personal in the county, one of the largest numbers nationally.
Major General Richard Clements CBE, Director of Basing and Infrastructure, said: “As home for many British Army units and the training centre for infantry soldiers, Catterick is an important garrison and this investment is very good news for our people.
“I am delighted that this transformative project is progressing at pace and we look forward to working with our local partners over coming years, to deliver improved facilities and services for military and civilian communities.”
The redevelopment plans include:
- Creating a new town square.
- Landscaping improvements, including upgrading Coronation Park and Shute Road by providing enhanced play areas and improved routes linking into the existing town centre.
- Enhancing key footpaths and cycleways through Coronation Park and on the approach to the town centre.
- Building a new community and enterprise facility with a glass pavilion and outdoor seating area.
The bid to the Levelling Up Fund developed feasibility work that was jointly funded by the former Richmondshire District Council, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and the York and North Yorkshire Local Enterprise Partnership and is also linked to the Catterick Garrison Masterplan that has been developed through the Richmondshire Local Plan Review.
