A major £7 million investment has delivered a new, state-of-the-art kitchen facility at Rollestone Camp on Salisbury Plain, significantly improving welfare provisions for hundreds of British
Armed Forces personnel undergoing training.
The project was delivered through a partnership between the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO), Landmarc Support Services, and regional construction firm Knights Brown Construction. The new facility will provide meals for up to 600 personnel across two sittings, easing operational pressures during intensive training periods while enhancing the overall living conditions on site.
Beyond improving day-to-day welfare, the development forms part of a wider programme to modernise catering and dining infrastructure across UK training establishments. The initiative aims to ensure that facilities better reflect contemporary standards while supporting the Armed Forces in maintaining high readiness levels.
Sustainability has been central to the design of the new kitchen. The building is fully electric and incorporates solar panels alongside battery storage systems to reduce reliance on the grid and cut overall energy demand. These features align with the Ministry of Defence’s wider environmental targets and efforts to decarbonise defence infrastructure.
The kitchen upgrade adds to a series of recent improvements at Rollestone Camp, which has seen substantial investment in training and accommodation facilities. These include six NetCAP-compliant accommodation blocks equipped with modern sleeping quarters, showers, ablutions, and drying rooms, as well as an Urban Fighting Skills House designed to replicate the complexity of contemporary urban combat environments.
Together, these enhancements reflect a broader shift towards integrating sustainability, modern training realism, and improved welfare standards across the UK’s defence estate.
Brigadier Gavin Hatcher, Head of Overseas and Training at DIO, said:
“Salisbury Plain Training Area is the UK’s largest training area and is used around 340 days a year, so it is important that our serving personnel have the facilities they need to support their training.
“The investment in modern troop accommodation and state-of-the-art training facilities at Rollestone demonstrates DIO’s contribution to the warfighting readiness and wellbeing of serving personnel.”
Major General AJ Smith CBE, Director of Basing and Infrastructure, said: “This high-quality facility provides modern, fit-for-purpose dining services on the training estate, ensuring our people are properly fuelled for the demands of soldiering. This significant investment at Rollestone will support our troops as they progress through training and prepare for operations worldwide.”
Landmarc’s Project Manager Andy Green, said: “Rollestone Camp plays a vital role in supporting training across Salisbury Plain, so it’s important that the facilities here keep pace with operational demands.
“As industry partner, Landmarc is proud to have worked with DIO and Knights Brown Construction to deliver this modern, sustainable facility.
“These improvements enhance the lived experience of personnel and ensure the training estate continues to support effective, high-quality training.” Photo by gov.uk
