The National Cadet Training Centre at Frimley Park has, for many years, suffered from a lack of sustained investment and routine maintenance. As a nationally significant cadet training facility, Frimley Park should represent the very best of the Cadet Forces estate. However, the current condition of the site falls well below the standard expected of a national training centre and risks undermining its ability to safely and effectively support cadet training.

There are now serious and ongoing accommodation issues within the main house. The top floor has been uninhabitable for over a year while awaiting the installation of new fire doors. This has already reduced available accommodation and limited the centre’s capacity. The issue has now extended to the middle floor, which can no longer accommodate cadets due to the same fire door concerns. This further reduces the centre’s ability to support residential training and places additional pressure on an already constrained estate.

These fire door issues are part of a much wider pattern of deterioration across the site. The estate is in a poor overall condition, with visible signs of neglect including ceiling staining from previous water leaks, peeling wallpaper, flaking paint, mould within walls, windows that either do not open or do not close properly, and broken or faulty door locks which make access difficult and unreliable. The heating system is also no longer fit for purpose and is frequently out of service, leaving areas of the site without heating.

The condition of the estate reflects a historic lack of funding and an absence of consistent preventative maintenance. SERFCA, as the estate management body, has not kept pace with the level of investment required to preserve and maintain Frimley Park to an acceptable standard. The result is a gradual decline of a facility that should be treated as a flagship national asset for cadets and adult volunteers.

Frimley Park is often regarded as a jewel in the Cadet crown, but its current condition does not reflect that status. Without urgent and meaningful investment, the centre’s ability to deliver high-quality national cadet training will continue to be compromised. A clear refurbishment plan, proper funding commitment, and renewed pride in the estate are now required to restore the National Cadet Training Centre to the standard it deserves.