The multi-million pound re-development of Catterick Garrison’s town centre has secured planning approval in a move aimed at bringing jobs and vital new facilities for local communities as well as military personnel on one of England’s largest Army bases.
Permission to build a new community and enterprise building and a multi-use events space as well as create a new public square was given by members of the Richmond (Yorks) Area Constituency Planning Committee today (Thursday, 11 January).
Plans also include landscaping improvements, upgrades to Coronation Park and Shute Road, improved play spaces, accessible routes to the town centre and improvements to footpaths and cycleways.
Richmond (Yorks) Area Constituency Planning Committee chairman, Cllr David Webster, said: “This scheme will see significant improvements to the centre of Catterick Garrison as well as contribute to our work to reduce carbon emissions through the use of sustainable design and renewable energy.”
The re-development of the town centre, which covers four acres of land around Shute Road, will see us working with the Ministry of Defence (MOD). We have received £19 million from the Government’s Levelling Up Fund, with the remaining match-funding coming from the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) and ourselves. It is hoped they will be brought to fruition by summer next year (2025).
The community building will house offices for small businesses and include space for community groups and food retail. Improvements to the park will include new play areas for all ages from toddlers and woodland play areas to a skatepark for older users.
Member for the Colburn and Hipswell ward, Cllr Kevin Foster, said: “This scheme has taken a major step forward today and means we can start to realise our ambition to complete by summer next year. The development is also in line with our priority of achieving net zero carbon emissions with its use of heat pumps and solar panels.
“It will bring new opportunities and facilities for the many people who live at Catterick Garrison – both civilians and members of the military.”
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 which dates back more than a century - there are 10,770 military personnel in the county, one of the largest numbers nationally.