Green light for £90m Catterick base expansion to house Royal Engineers

Catterick Garrison is set for a major shake-up after a £94m development was given the go-ahead – paving the way for hundreds more soldiers to move in.

North Yorkshire councillors have approved plans to expand Marne Barracks, already home to 5 Regiment Royal Artillery and 32 Regiment Royal Engineers, to make room for a third unit – 21 Engineer Regiment.

The investment will deliver two new SLAM accommodation blocks, workshops, a gym and sports pitches, with more than 160 troops expected to move into the new facilities.

• Catterick's mega med centre marks one year until it opens its doors to personnel
• Under the surface: Soldier explains his role as a diver with the Royal Engineers
• Ditching and switching: Ukraine dumps Kalashnikovs in favour of home-grown AR

21 Engineer Regiment are in need of a new a permanent base after it was announced the MOD had sold off their long-standing home in Ripon to make way for 1,000 new houses, under plans announced by Deputy Prime Minister, Angela Rayner.

But while the move secures the regiment's future in Catterick, not everyone is convinced. Some councillors warned the influx of additional troops will add pressure to already congested roads — with no money earmarked for transport upgrades.

Green Party councillor Kevin Foster called the approval a "missed opportunity," telling The Darlington & Stockton Times:

"Over 160 additional personnel are expected to live on site which will put further pressure on the already congested local road network. I'm surprised no provision was made to improve roads or transport links."

The expansion comes as Catterick readies itself for another landmark project – a £100m state-of-the-art "mega-med centre", due to open next year, providing healthcare to both troops and the wider community.

Catterick Garrison was established in 1914 during the First World War and has since grown into the largest British Army garrison in Europe.

Spanning more than 2,400 acres in North Yorkshire, it is home to tens of thousands of soldiers, their families, and civilian staff, making it one of the UK's most significant defence hubs.

In a statement, a spokesperson for the MOD said: "We are pleased that North Yorkshire Council has approved plans for a redevelopment of Marne Barracks at Catterick Garrison.

"The new facilities, which will include two brand-new single living accommodation blocks, each housing 85 soldiers, will be used by 21 Royal Engineers.

"Other facilities will include a gym, rugby pitch, workshops and garages, with associated car parking. They will be completed in late 2027."