A major milestone has been reached in the transformation of a former military barracks in Surrey into a new village, with 59 refurbished homes now let to residents. The former Princess Royal Barracks in Deepcut is being converted into Mindenhurst, a development that will eventually provide around 1,200 homes across the 114-hectare site.
Refurbishment programme progress
Annington said it is investing roughly £40 million to refurbish over 200 homes at the Mindenhurst development, marketed under the name The Weald. A total of 217 homes are being fully refurbished and brought to the private rental market as part of the wider regeneration.
The UK provider of privately rented homes has confirmed that 59 of those homes have now been refurbished and let, around 27% of the total. The refurbishment programme is expected to be completed by July 2027, with all of the refurbished homes targeted to be fully let by the end of 2027.
Decade-long transformation
The project is part of a decade-long transformation of the former military estate, with planning permission for the residential-led development granted in 2014. The last soldier left the barracks in December 2020.
The wider Mindenhurst development is set to include around 1,200 homes alongside a range of facilities designed to create a new community. The masterplan includes a primary school and nursery, a village centre with three retail units, a pub, care home and other community facilities.
Community facilities and green space
It will also feature sports pitches, allotments, play areas and new roads, drainage and environmental improvements. Around 69.2 hectares of the development is set to be public green space.
Deepcut camp was home to the North Minden and South Minden barracks which has inspired the Mindenhurst name, and in recent years the area has been known as the Princess Royal Barracks.
The development includes approximately 1,200 new homes, featuring a mix of apartments and 2-to-5-bedroom houses built by prominent UK developers like Taylor Wimpey, Cala Homes, and Bloor Homes. The larger towns of Frimley and Camberley are about 10 minutes away by car. London Waterloo is a 45-minute train journey from Frimley Green and Brookwood train stations.
Resident experiences
Jess Busby, an education lecturer, has been living in Camberley, Surrey for the last 14 years. She returned to the private rental market following the breakdown of a relationship and the sale of her family home. She and her three children opted for a three-bedroom home at The Weald.
She said: "I was really impressed with the way Annington has refurbished the space, it feels like a new home. It’s nice to know that no one else has used the kitchen or the shower before, and the carpets are brand new. Any dirt is my dirt, and not someone else’s! Renting with a company, rather than an individual landlord, makes it feel much more like it’s your home and peace of mind that you can put down roots."
She added: "I have room for the whole family, including our dog, and we have even created a cosy snug in the open-plan kitchen and dining area. The extra space means my son has dedicated room to work from home, and having such a large garden is something you just don’t see with many rental homes in the area."
Busby continued: "The location is perfect. My daughter goes to a secondary school nearby, and the commute is straightforward for me to Farnborough. I love being in nature and going on long walks, and having woodland directly across the road, without having to drive to a trail, has been incredible over the summer."
She also noted: "There is a small Asda due to open soon, which we’re all looking forward to, but everything else we could possibly need is within walking distance of our home. There’s a real community spirit which has been really welcoming for my family."
Stacy Whitehead, Marketing Manager at Annington, said: "The homes at Mindenhurst have been refurbished with modern living in mind, offering open-plan layouts, generous gardens, and brand-new kitchens. This standard of refurbishment is rarely seen on the rental market and has generated strong demand from local residents, with a waiting list already in place for our next phase. For families looking for a long term rental home, The Weald provides a real community environment, with schools, green spaces and facilities right on the doorstep."
