Entrain Space has officially revealed details of extensive plans to overhaul and redevelop its purpose-built facility for veterans, located at the former Erskine Barracks in Wilton near Salisbury. The blueprints were showcased earlier this month during its annual networking breakfast event for referrers, local authorities, and professional partners, and detail how accessibility will be transformed at its residential flats and community facilities. Entrain Space was recently awarded a grant of nearly £450,000 for this purpose by the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust on behalf of the Office for Veterans’ Affairs Veterans’ Capital Housing Fund.
The newly unveiled plans highlight the physical modifications designed to add new accessible spaces and eliminate barriers for residents and others who use the facilities.
Key upgrades include developing the building’s current rear undercroft to become a new lower ground floor with lift access to a disability friendly gym, wellness area, and private consulting spaces, as well as the redevelopment of the current ground floor office and training suite to become an accessible multi-agency support hub and hot-desking space, enabling partner organisations to work easily with all veterans.
Plans for building two new accessible one-bed flats and for overhauling the five existing studio flats to make them wheelchair accessible were also revealed. This will bring the total number of studio, one- and two-bed flats for veterans at Entrain Space to 46, with eight fully wheelchair accessible.
During the event, Entrain Space Founder and Trustee, Matthew Bell, formally acknowledged the backing of the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust by presenting a commemorative plaque that was later installed on the building’s special “wall of thanks”.
“Receiving the grant earlier this year was the catalyst, but sharing these fantastic blueprints with our professional partners makes the vision real,” said Matthew Bell.
“These modifications are not just structural updates – they represent independence, dignity, and equal access for our veterans. The keen interest shown at our annual event by referrers and other partners underscores how important these accessibility improvements are to the wider veterans support network we operate within.”
The project is due for completion in Autumn 2027.
