Army opens carbon neutral dog training facility

The British Army has opened a new £4.1m sustainable dog training facility at Remount Barracks in Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire.

The Canine Training Squadron (CTS) is home to around 200 working dogs, training in a variety of roles, including police force protection, arms and explosives searches, counter-improvised explosive device (C-IED), and drugs search operations in the UK and overseas.

The site has three classrooms, indoor and outdoor training areas, a station headquarters office space, and training accommodation.

The facility, using its own solar panels and a battery generator, will fulfil its own electricity requirements. An air source heat pump and recovery system will regulate heating across the entire site and a grey water harvesting system will recycle water for non-drinking requirements.

DATR Commanding Officer Lt Col, Mike Robinson, said: “The Defence Animal Training Regiment provides innovative and crucial training for our personnel and military dogs.

“I am pleased the Canine Training Squadron headquarters is officially open and can continue to provide a great learning environment for our Armed Forces whilst fulfilling our NetZero objectives.

Defence Infrastructure Organisation Area Delivery Manager for Lincolnshire and East Midlands, Greg Piper, added: “The state-of-the-art new training facility will provide a modern and self-sustaining operating capability for the Unit going forward.

“The project was a complex and challenging piece of work, but excellent collaborative work with partners, stakeholders and the customer ensured successful delivery and we are delighted to see this very important facility now in full operation.”

The new facility, which was officially opened by Princess Anne, has will help the army to achieve its net-zero carbon emissions targets for 2050.