Surrey Sikh Community Acquires Former MoD Site for Inaugural Gurdwara After Raising £1.5 Million

The Sikh community in Surrey has successfully gathered £1.5 million, intending to convert a former Ministry of Defence (MoD) property into a religious site. This former military installation, situated on London Road in Camberley, was auctioned in November with an initial guide price of £850,000, and is now designated to become the inaugural Gurdwara in the county. The 10,000 sq ft (929 sq m) property, which encompasses an army reserve centre and a caretaker’s residence, had previously been characterized by an MoD spokesperson as “surplus to defence requirements.” Deepak Singh Udassi, 43, the campaign manager and a key figure in the fundraising initiative, expressed that he was “thrilled” to have secured a permanent location. He recounted that after the auction concluded and their bid was successful, they were given until the close of that day to provide the £140,000 deposit. “We then had 28 days to find the rest of the million and a half in order to complete,” he further stated. He remarked, “That’s a lot of phone calls and emails, but luckily the community really came together and we got there.” Mr. Udassi indicated his expectation for the Gurdwara to commence operations in April 2025, with an open day scheduled for December 15th to enable public viewing of their proposals for the premises. He also mentioned that, beyond its function as a place of worship, the facility would operate as a community hub, a food bank, and a refuge for warmth during colder periods. Furthermore, a service is being planned to provide hot meals to individuals requiring assistance, alongside “hospital drop-offs for the elderly and infirm.” Mr. Udassi affirmed, “A key pillar of the Sikh faith is to serve those less fortunate, so we really want to make it a place for everyone.”