ARMY cadets across the region are set to benefit from a £5m development which has been completed at Holcombe Moor training Camp near Ramsbottom.

The project comprises a weekend training centre with accommodation for 202 cadets, as well as the county headquarters of the Greater Manchester Army Cadet Force which is relocating from Manchester.

The work was completed by Conlon Construction and commissioned by Defence Infrastructure while managed by the North West and Isle of Man Reserve Forces and Cadets’ Association (RFCA).

Planning permission was granted by Bury’s planning committee in 2005 and work began in September 2009 when the Lord Lieutenant of Greater Manchester, Colonel Warren Smith, “turned the turf”.

The project was only expected to take 12 months to complete but work had to stop for several weeks due to bad weather.

A spokesperson for Conlon said: “Two bad winters caused major problems, which was exacerbated by the remote and high location of Holcombe Moor.

"The snow caused access issues and the ground was frozen for many weeks meaning work could not progress.”

The site is famous as the location for the original Krypton Factor assault course and the new accommodation block will enable young cadets to stay on site while using the camp’s adventure training facilities.

The centre will also be used by other youth organisations such as the Air Training Corps and the Sea Cadet Corps.

Schoolchildren will also take part in activity days on the site and charity events.

Michael Conlon, construction director at Conlon, said: “We are extremely proud of our work at Holcombe Moor.

“Everybody is delighted with the high standards achieved on this project.”