Princess Royal opens new Reserve Centre

Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal opened the new £10 million Regimental Headquarters of 154 (Scottish) Regiment Royal Logistic Corps (RLC) in Dunfermline on 26 September.

The Princess Royal – who is Colonel-in-Chief of the Royal Logistic Corps – met members of the Regiment as well as the building contractors and Highland RFCA staff during her visit to the Elgin Street site.

The project consolidates the Regimental Headquarters of 154 (Scottish) Regiment RLC, 239 (Fife) Transport Squadron and the Dunfermline Detachment of The Black Watch Battalion Army Cadet Force into a single Army Reserve Centre (ARC) location.

The move streamlines operations, allowing for the disposal of a redundant site. This consolidation brings greater efficiency to the Volunteer Estate, providing the necessary space and facilities to enhance training and operational effectiveness.

The new-build project includes a large, open-plan office space, drill hall, mess areas, industrial kitchen, bathrooms and shower rooms, transit accommodation, server and plant rooms. Sustainability has been a central consideration in the design. The facility features entirely electric infrastructure, including energy-efficient air source heat pumps, solar panels and electric vehicle charging points.

In 2022 Henry Brothers won the contract to design and build the new ARC and demolish the existing Bruce House with Mott MacDonald acting as the technical service provider, supporting the Highland RFCA Estates team.

“This project presented a unique opportunity to demonstrate our ability to adapt quickly and deliver innovative, future-proof solutions,” said Mott MacDonald Defence portfolio delivery lead, Susannah Gregory. “As one of the first developments in Scotland to respond to the 2023 building regulations, we had to completely rethink the energy strategy – moving away from gas, redesigning the heating system from the ground up and integrating renewable technologies.

“Working closely with Highland RFCA and Henry Brothers, we delivered a design that meets operational needs while supporting wider sustainability goals. The result is a step change in infrastructure quality, one that will significantly enhance how the team works day to day, enabling more efficient, confident and resilient service delivery.”

Progress on the project had been hindered by the discovery of hazardous materials during initial groundworks. Additional works were undertaken to ensure there was nothing else of a historical nature buried on the site. This meant scanning the ground, then removing and replacing all of the potentially contaminated soil.

As part of the project Henry Brothers undertook a number of social value initiatives. These included donating picnic tables for use in parks close to the ARC; welcoming construction students from Fife College for a tour of the site; and taking part in outreach initiatives at local primary and secondary schools.

The project was Army-funded and demonstrates its ongoing commitment to its Reserve Forces and their important role in the UK’s defence capabilities.

Main image: © MoD Crown Copyright 2025

Find out more about 154 (Scottish) Regiment RLC.