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{{Short description|Barracks in Edinburgh, Scotland, UK}}{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2023}}{{Use British English|date=January 2018}}

factoids

|built = 1909–1915|used=1915 – presentMinistry of Defence (United Kingdom)>Ministry of DefenceUnited Kingdom}}|architect = Harry Bell Measures|built_for = War Office|garrison =|occupants = Balaclava Company, 5th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland (Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders)}}Redford Cavalry and Infantry Barracks is a military installation located on Colinton Road, near the Edinburgh City Bypass, east of the suburb of Colinton in Edinburgh, Scotland. The barracks are set to close in 2029.

History

Redford Barracks was built between 1909 and 1915 by the War Office and designed by Harry Bell Measures. When completed, the barracks was the largest military installation built in Scotland since Fort George in the Highlands. The British Army garrison in Edinburgh Castle formally moved out to the barracks in 1923. Today, the Infantry Barracks are unoccupied, and the Cavalry Barracks houses Balaclava Company, 5th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland (Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders).The barracks comprises two category B listed main buildings and parade squares facing Colinton Road.{{Historic Environment Scotland|num=LB49560|desc=Redford Infantry Barracks Block...|cat=A|access-date=18 March 2019}}{{Historic Environment Scotland|num=LB28009|desc=Redford Cavalry Barracks block...|cat=A|access-date=18 March 2019|fewer-links=yes}}

Infantry Barracks

(File:RedfordInfantryBlock.jpg|thumb|left|The Infantry Barracks at Redford)The Infantry Barracks ({{coord|55.9103|-3.2457|type:landmark_region:GB|display=inline|name=Infantry Barracks, Redford Barracks, Edinburgh}}), was originally built to house an entire infantry regiment and could accommodate 1,000 men. It could provide everything the resident line infantry battalion required to function. The families lived in service quarters close to the barracks and the children attended local schools. The main barrack block itself housed the resident battalion headquarters, one Rifle Company, a Fire Support Company and Headquarters Company. The two other Rifle Companies were accommodated in a separate, newer block. 3rd Battalion The Rifles, the last battalion to occupy the barracks, moved out in 2014.WEB,weblink The Rifles, British Army units 1945 on, 12 May 2016,

Cavalry Barracks

The three-storey Cavalry Barracks ({{coord|55.9127|-3.2419|type:landmark_region:GB|display=inline|name=Cavalry Barracks, Redford Barracks, Edinburgh}}), with its tall domed clock-tower, was originally built to house a cavalry regiment, most notably the Royal Scots Greys, with a large annexe of stables and associated outbuildings. With the permanent stationing of armoured units such as the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards in Germany as part of the British Army of the Rhine, the Cavalry Barracks became a home to D Squadron, Royal Scots Dragoon Guards stationed there from 1971 until disbanded in 1976.WEB,weblink Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, British army units 1945 on, 14 May 2016, The cavalry barracks have been the home for Balaclava Company, 5th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland (Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders) since 2014.WEB,weblink Armed Forces: location, UK Parliament, 14 May 2016, WEB,weblink The Royal Regiment of Scotland, British Army units 1945 on, 14 May 2016, The Regimental Headquarters of the Scottish and North Irish Yeomanry has also been located at the cavalry barracks since 2014.WEB,weblink Local Army Directory, Ministry of Defence, 22 October 2017, Redford Barracks had 370 UK Armed Forces Service personnel based there at 1 January 2024.WEB, 1 May 2024, Redford Barracks – Question for Ministry of Defence (UIN 23301),weblink 2 May 2024, UK Parliament,

Based units

The following notable units are based at Redford Barracks.WEB,weblink Army:Written question - 194616, Lancaster, Mark, 29 November 2018, UK Parliament, en, 30 November 2018, WEB,weblink 5 Military Intelligence, British Army, en-GB, 15 December 2018, WEB,weblink Royal Regiment of Scotland, British Army, en-GB, 15 December 2018, British ArmyWEB,weblink Redford Barracks, 2 June 2021,

• Headquarters, 51st Infantry Brigade and Headquarters Scotland
• Balaklava Company, 5th Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland
• Army School of Bagpipe Music and Highland Drumming
• Headquarters, 5 Military Intelligence Battalion, Intelligence Corps
• Regimental Headquarters, 105th Regiment, Royal Artillery
  • I Troop, 278 (Lowland) Battery
• Regimental Headquarters, Scottish and North Irish Yeomanry
  • E (Lothians and Border Yeomanry) Squadron
• City of Edinburgh University Officers' Training Corps

Community Cadet Forces

• 20 (Colinton) Platoon, Lothians and Borders Battalion, Army Cadet Force
• Pipes and Drums of Lothians and Borders Battalion, Army Cadet Force
• 870 (Dreghorn) Squadron, Air Training CorpsWEB,weblink 870 (Dreghorn), 2 June 2021,

Future

As part of the Future Force 2020 budgetary announcement in July 2011, RAF Kirknewton was to have been developed into a major Army base to host a Multi-Role Brigade;WEB,weblink Defence Basing Review, 13 April 2014, Redford and Dreghorn Barracks would become surplus to requirements and were earmarked for disposal under this plan.WEB,weblink Defence Basing Review: Standard Note SN06038, House of Commons Library, 14 November 2011, However, in December 2011, it was reported that the planned move to Kirknewton was in doubt, and that Redford Barracks would be retained.WEB,weblink Barracks wins reprieve, Edinburgh Evening News, 4 December 2011, By 2013, it was confirmed that the MRB plan had been dropped, and that Redford Barracks would be closed.WEB,weblink Scottish barracks to close in £240m MoD cutbacks, 5 March 2013, The Herald, In 2019, it was announced that the closure of the barracks had been deferred to 2025.WEB,weblink Ministry of Defence urged to stop planned Scottish base closures, www.scotsman.com, en, 12 October 2019, This was once more extended to 2029.NEWS,weblink 'Transformation' of Army in Scotland planned, BBC News, 25 November 2021, 26 November 2021, In 2021, the City of Edinburgh Council revealed plans to create 800 new homes on the site, as part of their City Plan 2030.WEB, Clark, John Paul, 2021-09-27, Edinburgh Redford Barracks will be transformed into massive housing development,weblink 2023-09-27, EdinburghLive, en,

See also

• Armed forces in Scotland
• Military history of Scotland

References

{{reflist|30em}}{{Defence infrastructure in Edinburgh}}{{Residential buildings in Edinburgh}}