£25m scheme for garrison town promises hundreds of new jobs

The proposed scheme at the former sports ground on Gough Road, currently owned by the Ministry of Defence, will include several major retail units and a five-screen cinema.

It will also offer space for new restaurants, cafes and bars alongside a 60-bed hotel with 400 car parking spaces.

Yesterday the developers behind the proposals said that the scheme would generate 700 
jobs and help give a timely boost to the economy in Richmondshire.

Lingfield Securities is giving local people a chance to hear about the proposals at an event at the Catterick Leisure Centre, Gough Road, on Wednesday, May 1, when they will get the chance to meet representatives from the company.

A formal planning application for the scheme is expected to be submitted to the council at the end of May.

Coun Ken Lambert (Ind, Scotton), of Richmondshire District Council, said people he had spoken to appeared supportive of the proposals but urged people to visit the event on May 1 to find out more.

He said the proposals were the latest stage of redevelopment plans which have also seen a new supermarket and cycle paths around the area developed.

Catterick Garrison has a population of around 18,000, and is larger than the neighbouring town of Richmond.

Jonathan Hart, chief executive at Lingfield Securities, said: “We’re looking forward to liaising and having a constructive dialogue with local people about what they think of our proposals to bring retail and leisure facilities to the heart of Catterick Garrison’s town centre.

“We believe our proposals will play a vital part in supporting local businesses and in adding to the prosperity of the wider area.

“These are exciting times for Catterick Garrison with the army naming it as one of five major UK bases in which it will concentrate its resources.

“In addition, the upgrade to the A1 and new junction close to the new town centre will greatly improve accessibility.

“We have taken great care to ensure our proposals will complement the local area and are in line with Richmondshire District Council’s core strategy of establishing shopping and leisure facilities in the principal towns to retain expenditure in the district.

“This, in turn, will reduce the need for long and expensive journeys to shopping centres outside the district,” he added.

Lingfield Securities signed an agreement in 2010 with the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO), the MOD’s property and services provider, to bring forward proposals for the site’s development.

Martin Watson, of DIO, said: “DIO’s priority is supporting our Armed Forces and their families. Our vision for Catterick Garrison is to integrate military and civilian communities, encouraging social and economic development to serve the Armed Forces their families and the local population.

“One of the main drivers for this is the redevelopment of Catterick Garrison town centre. Lingfield’s proposals are very exciting and will transform the former sports ground into a modern town centre offering a wide range of retail and leisure facilities.”

If councillors give the proposals the go-ahead it is hoped the proposed development will act as the catalyst for the further redevelopment of the area.

In the past some local traders had raised fears that large-scale developments in the area were hitting their trade and diverting people away from spending at local independent shops.

Catterick Garrison, in addition to military and civilian housing areas, comprises several separate barracks around which a town has developed.

The garrison is home to both 4 Mechanised Brigade and the Infantry Training Centre where all infantry soldiers receive their basic and advanced training.

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