Catterick to house another 3,500 troops under "super garrison" expansion

Soldiers outside of Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire
A soldier outside the Headquarters of Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire, which is to undergo a major expansion. Credit: A soldier outside the Headquarters of Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire, which is to undergo a major expansion.

Troops numbers at Catterick Garrison in North Yorkshire are expected to rise by more than 50% by 2031, under plans for a major expansion of the baracks.  

The British Army base, which is already the largest in the UK, currently houses 6,000 service personnel. In 2016, plans were uneveiled to turn Catterick into a “super-garrison.”

Soldiers based at Catterick parade the ground of nearby Richmond Castle in North Yorkshire, 2018. Credit: PA Images

The Ministry of Defence has now instructed the consultants WYG to analyse the impact higher troop numbers could have on the town and the local area, with building work expected to begin in 2023.

The project will see the constuction of new family accommodation, offices and garages, as well as sports and leisure facilities. 

The Army says it is working closely with local authorities to ensure that local services “meet the demand of both existing and new residents.”

The base already is already home to the Army's Combat Infrantryman Course, where recruits from various regiments, including the parachute regiment and the Gurkhas, come to train.

The barracks will also house the army's mechanised and wheeled capabilites.

The number of family members housed at Catterick Garrison is expected to increase in line with troops numbers, to around 3,800. Credit: PA Images

Once the expansion plans are completed, Catterick - currently the biggest British Army base in the world - will also become one of the largest settlement in North Yorkshire, after Harrogate, Scarborough and Northallerton.