Help for Heroes has submitted a planning application for its personnel recovery centre at Tidworth.

An appeal by the Gazette and Herald and Wiltshire Times newspapers has raised more than £50,000 towards the centre.

The planning application by Help for Heroes is to put temporary accommodation units on the tennis courts next to Tedworth House in Tidworth, as an interim measure, while the charity brings forward its plans to convert Tedworth House.

The three temporary buildings will have 28 beds and Help for Heroes aims to get these ready by May.

The recovery centre will be for servicemen and women injured in Afghanistan. They will come to the centre at the third stage in their recovery after being treated in hospital and at Headley Court in Surrey for rehabilitation.

The centre at Tidworth will support injured troops with the aim for them to achieve a return to duty or successful transition into civilian employment.

Help for Heroes’ plans for a permanent centre at Tedworth House, which is owned by the Ministry of Defence, will comprise a 50- bed residential unit, gym, kitchen, interview and training facilities and office accommodation.

Rosie Trousdell, of Help for Heroes, said: “Help for Heroes are delighted that the next step in our long-term plans for our wounded heroes’ road to recovery has been taken.

“The planning application for Tedworth House has been submitted to Wiltshire Council and we hope that, if it’s approved, work will begin quickly and Tedworth House can then become one of our personnel recovery centres, acting as a ‘one stop shop’, giving those injured in the line of duty the best training and opportunities to face a fulfilling future.”