20 November 2025
Royal Engineers gain hands-on construction experience at Rochester Riverside
Soldiers from the Royal Engineers, a division of the armed forces that provides military engineering and technical support, swapped helmets for hard hats for a behind-the-scenes tour of Vistry and Hyde’s flagship £419m Rochester Riverside development, as part of an ongoing partnership with Mid Kent College to train soldiers in construction skills.
The visit, held on Wednesday 15 October, formed part of Vistry’s ongoing collaboration with the Royal School of Military Engineering (RSME) in Chatham. Over the past year, monthly site tours across Vistry’s developments at Eastern Quarry, Rochester Riverside, and Tovil have provided Royal Engineers with valuable opportunities to learn firsthand how large-scale projects are built.
These visits support Vistry’s commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant, offering soldiers in training real-world exposure to modern construction methods and standards. The Royal Engineers train their soldiers across a broad range of construction disciplines, and Vistry’s visit focused specifically on the following four key construction areas:
- Concrete and brickwork
- Carpentry and joinery
- Plumbing, heating, and electrical systems
- Structural finishes, including internal fit-out, drylining, plastering, tiling, painting, and flooring
During the Rochester visit, the cohort focused on structural finishes, reviewing a range of works such as dry lining, tape and jointing, tiling, decorating, and flooring operations. Demonstrations were delivered by Vistry’s supply chain partners, with supervisors and managers on hand to provide detailed explanations of health and safety, logistics management, programme sequencing, and quality assurance.
The group also discussed how construction techniques vary across the globe - from differing ground conditions to material availability and suitability - reflecting the environments Royal Engineers may face when deployed internationally. The visit concluded with a review of the roof slab on a five-storey reinforced concrete frame apartment block.
Rochester Riverside is a £419m regeneration scheme that Vistry and Hyde are delivering in partnership with Medway Council and Homes England. To date, over 500 homes have been completed, alongside a primary school, commercial plaza, and public open spaces including a river walkway. Construction is due to begin early next year on Phases 4 and 5, which will deliver a further 353 homes, including affordable housing, a nursery, and new green spaces that enhance connectivity with Rochester’s historic High Street.
Brendan Evans, Managing Director for Vistry Kent, said: “We are proud to continue our partnership with the Royal Engineers and support their training through regular site visits at Rochester Riverside. These sessions not only demonstrate our commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant but also provide a unique opportunity for soldiers to gain practical insights into modern construction techniques by offering workshops and tours. Rochester Riverside is a flagship regeneration scheme, and it’s a privilege to share its progress with those who serve our country.”
Emma Cherrison, Building Faculty Manager at Mid Kent College, commented: “This kind of exposure is truly invaluable to the Royal Engineers. The opportunity to observe and engage with live projects not only enriches their understanding but also brings a tangible relevance to their training. The relationship that’s been developed with Vistry continues to add significant value to the experience we offer our soldiers. It’s partnerships like these that help bridge the gap between theoretical instruction and real-world application, and are a vital step in preparing the Royal Engineers for the challenges they’ll face beyond the classroom.”