A flagship project to bring new jobs and businesses as well as community facilities to a town which is home to one of England’s largest Army bases has been endorsed by MP Rishi Sunak.
The Prime Minister has visited Catterick Garrison to witness firsthand the benefits which are due to be realised through a multi-million pound re-development of the town centre in North Yorkshire.
The scheme was given planning approval by us earlier this month (January) in a move aimed at bringing jobs and vital new facilities for local communities as well as military personnel on the town’s Army base.
Mr Sunak, who is the MP for the Richmond constituency in which Catterick Garrison is located, said: “This development will bring a new civic focus to Catterick Garrison which I am sure will be welcomed by the residents - both military and civilian - of the garrison and nearby Colburn.
"When complete next year, residents will have a town centre which will bring the garrison’s community together and encourage a greater sense of pride.”
The Catterick Garrison scheme will see a community and enterprise building and a multi-use events space built along with a new public square after planning permission was approved by members of the Richmond (Yorks) Area Constituency Planning Committee on 11 January.
Plans also include landscaping improvements, upgrades to Coronation Park and Shute Road, enhanced play spaces, accessible routes to the town centre and an overhaul of footpaths and cycleways.
The re-development of the town centre, which covers four acres of land around Shute Road, will see North Yorkshire Council working with the Ministry of Defence (MOD). The council has received £19 million from the Government’s Levelling Up Fund, with the remaining match-funding coming from the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) and the authority itself. It is hoped that the town centre redevelopment will be completed by the summer of next year.
The Levelling Up Fund has been unveiled by the Government to provide £4.8 billion in funding to invest in infrastructure to improve everyday life across the UK, including regenerating town centres and high streets, upgrading local transport, and investing in cultural and heritage assets.
The plans for Catterick Garrison are set to see the community building used for offices for small businesses as well as space for community groups and food retail. Improvements to the park will include new play areas, woodland and a skatepark.
Council leader, Cllr Carl Les, who represents the Catterick Village and Brompton-on-Swale division, said: “The re-development of the centre of Catterick Garrison will breathe new life into one of our key towns in North Yorkshire.
“The regeneration project is part of our wider commitment to ensure that communities across the whole of North Yorkshire benefit from investment to attract new enterprise while providing new facilities to make the county an even more attractive place to live and work.
“It has been a great opportunity to have Rishi visit to show him the real effects that the Government’s initiatives such as the Levelling Up Fund are having in communities, including Catterick Garrison.”
Cllr Kevin Foster represents the local Hipswell and Colburn division on North Yorkshire Council and is also the authority’s Armed Forces champion.
Cllr Foster said: “This has been a very collaborative bid between the council and the Ministry of Defence.
“I am looking forward to seeing the project developing – the regeneration of Catterick Garrison is very much needed and will be beneficial to all of the local communities, including members of the Armed Forces.
“The development will include a great green space to use and embraces the council’s priorities to reduce carbon emissions as well."
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.