Asked by: Gareth Davies (Conservative - Grantham and Bourne)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Answer of 9 June 2026 to Question 6104, if he will provide an aggregate estimate, or estimated range, of the total cost of relocating the units and training functions based at Prince William of Gloucester Barracks.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
As referenced in my previous answer of 9 June 2026 to Question 6104, a comprehensive Value for Money assessment has been conducted to inform the current plan. This assessment includes detailed consideration of capital costs, moving costs, running costs, disposal receipts, as well as non-financial benefits and disbenefits. The economic case demonstrates that the disposal of Prince William of Gloucester (PWoG) Barracks represents positive value to the public purse.
While exact capital cost figures remain commercially sensitive, the economic case estimates that providing equivalent training capacity at Alexander Barracks, Pirbright will result in reduced running costs across both infrastructure and personnel, thereby contributing to overall savings.
Precise annual running costs of Grantham are not centralised and could only be provided at disproportionate cost. Regarding the annual running cost of providing the equivalent training capacity of Army Training Regiment Grantham at Alexander Barracks, Pirbright, I refer the honourable member to the answer provided by my hon. Friend, the Minister for Veterans and Personnel, on 4 June 2026 to Question 5714. Until future plans are fully determined, it is not possible to provide precise costing estimates at this time. Furthermore, the department does not routinely release forecast figures.
With respect to an aggregate estimate or range of the total cost of relocating the units and training functions based at Prince William of Gloucester Barracks, as noted in my previous response, such forecast costs are commercially sensitive and therefore cannot be disclosed.
The approved plan represents a financially prudent approach that balances capital investment with ongoing savings, ensuring the continued delivery of high-quality Army Reserve training in a sustainable and cost-effective manner.
Asked by: Gareth Davies (Conservative - Grantham and Bourne)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Answer of 9 June 2026 to Question 5729, where the new bespoke non-infantry basic training centre will be located; what the timeline is for its opening and expansion; what its expected capacity will be; and how it will deliver efficiencies.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 9 June 2026 to Question 5729, in which I confirmed that the Defence Infrastructure Organisation is delivering the development of a bespoke non-infantry basic training centre of excellence at Pirbright. This facility will meet current and future defence requirements and will enable the disposal of Prince William of Gloucester Barracks. Co-location of Army Training at Pirbright will provide more efficient and flexible training provision. Future training requirements and associated resourcing will continue to be routinely reviewed.
Prince William of Gloucester Barracks will close once alternative Army Reserve basic training capacity is fully established and operational. As indicated on the GOV.uk disposal database, this is expected to take place from 2029 onwards.
Regarding the location of infantry reserve basic training currently provided at Army Training Regiment Grantham following the planned closure of Prince William of Gloucester Barracks, the Regiment will relocate to Pirbright. Additionally, a network of regional training hubs will continue to operate across the country to support reservists. The precise number and nature of these hubs will be determined through the ongoing Army Reserve Basic Training Review.
Asked by: Gareth Davies (Conservative - Grantham and Bourne)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Answer of 9 June 2026 to Question 5729, where infantry reserve basic training currently provided at Army Training Regiment Grantham will take place following the planned closure of Prince William of Gloucester Barracks.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 9 June 2026 to Question 5729, in which I confirmed that the Defence Infrastructure Organisation is delivering the development of a bespoke non-infantry basic training centre of excellence at Pirbright. This facility will meet current and future defence requirements and will enable the disposal of Prince William of Gloucester Barracks. Co-location of Army Training at Pirbright will provide more efficient and flexible training provision. Future training requirements and associated resourcing will continue to be routinely reviewed.
Prince William of Gloucester Barracks will close once alternative Army Reserve basic training capacity is fully established and operational. As indicated on the GOV.uk disposal database, this is expected to take place from 2029 onwards.
Regarding the location of infantry reserve basic training currently provided at Army Training Regiment Grantham following the planned closure of Prince William of Gloucester Barracks, the Regiment will relocate to Pirbright. Additionally, a network of regional training hubs will continue to operate across the country to support reservists. The precise number and nature of these hubs will be determined through the ongoing Army Reserve Basic Training Review.
Asked by: Gareth Davies (Conservative - Grantham and Bourne)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Answer of 9 June 2026 to Question 5724, whether the decision that Prince William of Gloucester Barracks is surplus to military requirement has been reviewed by Ministers since 2016.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to him on 4 June 2026, to Question 5468. No alternative military requirement has been identified for Prince William of Gloucester Barracks.
https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2026-06-01/5468
Asked by: Gareth Davies (Conservative - Grantham and Bourne)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Answer of 9 June 2026 to Question 5721, what assessment Joint Military Command Centre has made of the resilience capability that will be lost when Prince William of Gloucester Barracks is no longer available; and which location will assume its role in contingency plans for resilience operations.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
Contingency plans will be adjusted accordingly when the site is no longer available. Location of resilience sites is sensitive operational information and therefore cannot be disclosed.
Asked by: Gareth Davies (Conservative - Grantham and Bourne)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of consolidating Army Reserve basic training at Alexander Barracks, Pirbright on the recruitment and retention of reservists from i) the Midlands, ii) North of England and iii) Scotland.
Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
The consolidation of Army Reserve basic training at Alexander Barracks, Pirbright, will not result in training being delivered exclusively from a single location. While the Army Training Regiment will relocate from Prince William of Gloucester Barracks, Grantham, to Pirbright. A network of regional training hubs will continue to operate across the country to support reservists.
The exact number and type of hubs will be determined by the ongoing Army Reserve Basic Training Review.
Asked by: Gareth Davies (Conservative - Grantham and Bourne)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what use is made of the training area at Prince William of Gloucester Barracks; and what equivalent facilities will be available at receiving locations following the planned closure of that site.
Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
The training area adjacent to Prince William of Gloucester Barracks is currently used by resident units for basic training activity, and by other units in the region for driving training. Following the planned closure of the Barracks, these training requirements will be provided at the receiving units’ new locations and elsewhere across the Defence Estate.
The Prince William of Gloucester Barracks is not designated as a mobilisation and mounting centre for Reserve forces nor is it required for such purposes.
Asked by: Gareth Davies (Conservative - Grantham and Bourne)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the Army Reserve Basic Training Review will include an assessment of the accessibility of training locations for reservists who travel to training in their own time alongside civilian employment.
Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
The Army Reserve Basic Training Review is currently ongoing and will comprehensively consider all relevant factors affecting reservists, including the delivery and location of training to ensure it meets the needs of the Reserve Force effectively.
At this stage it is not possible to provide precise projections regarding the proportion of Army Reserve basic training that Alexander Barracks, Pirbright, will deliver annually from 2028 to 2032.
Asked by: Gareth Davies (Conservative - Grantham and Bourne)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of of delivering Army Reserve basic training from a single site at Alexander Barracks, Pirbright on resilience.
Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
The consolidation of Army Reserve basic training at Alexander Barracks, Pirbright, will not result in training being delivered exclusively from a single location. While the Army Training Regiment will relocate from Prince William of Gloucester Barracks, Grantham, to Pirbright. A network of regional training hubs will continue to operate across the country to support reservists.
The exact number and type of hubs will be determined by the ongoing Army Reserve Basic Training Review.
Asked by: Gareth Davies (Conservative - Grantham and Bourne)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of Prince William of Gloucester Barracks as a mobilisation and mounting centre for Reserve forces.
Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
The training area adjacent to Prince William of Gloucester Barracks is currently used by resident units for basic training activity, and by other units in the region for driving training. Following the planned closure of the Barracks, these training requirements will be provided at the receiving units’ new locations and elsewhere across the Defence Estate.
The Prince William of Gloucester Barracks is not designated as a mobilisation and mounting centre for Reserve forces nor is it required for such purposes.