The British Army has opened a center in Pirbright, Surrey, to support the welfare needs of cadets training in the region.
Built at the Alexander Barracks, the “Solders’ Centre” is available for recruits completing the 13-week basic training course under the military’s enlistment program.
The site, worth approximately 11 million pounds ($14.1 million), consists of cinemas, retail shops, food outlets, a digital theater, and social areas.
Among its primary features is to support the UK Ministry of Defence’s commitment to reducing the armed forces’ carbon footprint, including modern architecture assembled using resource-efficient “Glulam” glue-laminated timber frames as well as photovoltaic panels for on-site renewable energy generation.
In the future, this facility will also be used as a gathering space for families attending graduation ceremonies.
About 7 million pounds ($9 million) of the funding to construct the center was sourced from the Army Central Fund – the largest grant recorded with the agency.
Associated work was conducted by the Defence Infrastructure Organisation in partnership with local engineering companies Henry Brothers and WSP.
Henry Brothers has completed an £11 million welfare hub designed to support new recruits at the he hubArmy Training Centre Pirbright.
The hub brings existing health & wellbeing services across the site into a single location, enhancing the training experience for recruits.
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— Henry Brothers (@HenryBrothersHB) February 10, 2025
“The Soldiers’ Centre is an outstanding facility that will promote wellbeing and foster a sense of community among recruits at [Army Training Centre] Pirbright as they start their life journey with the army,” British Army Basing and Infrastructure Director Maj. Gen. Richard Clements remarked at the inauguration ceremony.
“This project also demonstrates our extensive investment in modernising our estate, supporting future capability, and enhancing the environments where our soldiers live, work and train.”
More Enhancements Soon
The opening of the Soldiers’ Centre will be followed by additional infrastructure projects at the Alexander Barracks to boost the quality of life of its trainees.
This phase, which will build modern recruit accommodation, a gymnasium, and swimming pool, will run from 2026 through 2032.
“As the first new building within wider plans to overhaul a sizable proportion of the Pirbright estate, it provides a tangible example of high-quality modernised infrastructure and sets the standard moving forward,” Pirbright Army Training Centre Commanding Officer Lt. Col. Mike Bysshe said.
