Royal Navy to open new Reserve Unit in Rochester

The Royal Navy has announced plans to build a brand new Royal Naval Reserve (RNR) training unit in the centre of the Medway town Rochester.

The new purpose-built building will be located at the Army Reserve Centre in Fort Clarence Barracks and will house Royal Navy reservists from the Medway Tender, a sub-unit of London-based HMS President, and who are currently lodging with the Royal Engineers in Brompton. 

The new building will provide state-of-the art classrooms and training facilities for the Navy reservists and they will share accommodation and sporting facilities with their Army Reserve counterparts.

The decision to move to Rochester is part of the UK Government’s commitment to invest and expand the UK Reserve Forces under the Future Reserves 2020 programme.

Commodore Martin Quinn, Commander Maritime Reserves, said:  “I am delighted to announce our plans to build a new Reserve unit for our Medway Tender in Rochester.

"The Royal Navy has a strong connection to the Medway region and the move to a prime city centre location in Rochester reflects the value we place on our Reserves Forces.

"It is also a reflection of the strong support we receive from the local community and our commitment to invest in our Reserves across the region.” 

Captain Mark Wyatt, head of the RNR Infrastructure Programme Team, said: “This new unit will be a great opportunity for Navy reservists located in the Medway region.

"It will provide them with a modern fit-for-purpose training establishment with shared facilities with our Army Reserve colleagues.

"They have been very welcoming and we are already holding one drill night a month in Fort Clarence until the build is complete to encourage recruiting and integration.”

Planning permission has been granted and work on the new build will commence in the spring. The new unit should open in late 2017.

Anyone interested in joining the Reserves in the South East can search Royal Navy Careers online or call 0345 600 3222.