MOD Bicester

MoD Bicester is a large military installation consisting of two barracks and a storage and distribution centre, just outside Bicester in Oxfordshire. The St David's Barracks part of the base, home to 1 Regiment RLC, is set to close in 2028.

History
The site dates back to September 1942, when a depot was constructed near Bicester to provide logistical support for operations in Europe during the Second World War. In 1961 the ordnance depots at Didcot and Branston were closed and a Central Ordnance Depot was created at Bicester. Between 1980 and 1982, the ordnance depots at Chilwell and Ruddington were also closed, resulting in an increased role for the remaining central ordnance depots at Bicester and Donnington. The depot became known as the Defence Storage and Distribution Centre in April 1999. The base is serviced by the Bicester Military Railway.

A bomb disposal training base, built at a cost of circa £100 million and including a cave complex, a dive pool and roadways was established at St George's Barracks on the site in March 2013.

In September 2014, 23 Pioneer Regiment, which had been based at St David's Barracks on the site since the 1940s, was disbanded.

1 Regiment RLC moved from Gütersloh in Germany to St David's Barracks at Bicester in 2016.

Current units
Units based at the site include:

St David’s Barracks

Royal Logistic Corps

St George’s Barracks
 * 1 Regiment
 * 74 Headquarters Squadron
 * 23 General Support Squadron
 * 12 Close Support Squadron
 * 2 Close Support Squadron
 * REME Light Aid Detachment

Royal Engineers


 * Defence Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD), Munitions, and Search (DEMS) Training Regiment

Future
The St David's Barracks portion is earmarked for disposal, with a closure date of 2028.