New State-of-the-Art Gym Boosts Soldier Wellbeing at Kendrew Barracks
The landscape of soldier welfare at Kendrew Barracks has been transformed with the official opening of a £11.6 million Physical and Recreational Training Centre (P&RTC). This modern facility is designed to serve as a cornerstone for the health and readiness of approximately 1,800 soldiers and their families stationed in Cottesmore.
The project represents the final milestone of the Army Basing Programme (ABP) and was funded by the Defence Estate Optimisation (DEO) Army Programme. Delivered through a partnership between the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO), Willmott Dixon, and AECOM, the center is now fully operational and integrated into daily military life.
Spanning an impressive 2,443m², the P&RTC was designed in collaboration with the Royal Army Physical Training Corps to ensure it meets the rigorous demands of modern military service. The facility includes, a dedicated area for high-intensity, specialised training. Sprung-Timber Sports Hall, providing a versatile space for team sports and large-scale drills. Including squash courts for agility and cardiovascular health. Modern changing facilities, shower blocks, and administrative offices for Physical Training Instructors.
The new gym doesn't just focus on physical muscle it also flexes its environmental credentials. To align with the Ministry of Defence’s wider green commitments, the building features solar panels and secure cycle storage. Additionally, a roof-mounted plant room with external access was engineered to maximize internal floor space while streamlining maintenance safety.
"Providing modern, flexible training spaces like this is central to ensuring soldiers have the right environment to thrive, both physically and mentally." says Belinda Lunn, DEO Army Programme Director
The P&RTC is currently the home of fitness for the 1st and 2nd Battalion, The Royal Anglian Regiment, as well as HQ 7th Light Mechanised Brigade Combat Team. However, the facility's reach is set to expand as the barracks grows, Unit Joining Kendrew Barracks, in 2028 1 Military Working Dog Regiment and 20 Army Education Corps. 2029 36 Engineer Regiment & Lodger Units.
The gym is just one piece of a larger puzzle. The ABP Kendrew Barracks Project continues to modernize the site, with a brand-new Military Working Dogs compound featuring kennels, a veterinary facility, and an HQ—scheduled for completion later in 2026.
As Warren Webster, DIO MPP Army Programme Director, noted, these improvements are ultimately about maximising the ability of "war-fighters to operate, deter, fight, and win" by listening to what they actually need to succeed.
