New facilities complete at home of Royal Artillery
Soldiers at Larkhill Garrison are benefiting from new places to work and train as a major programme of improvements comes to an end with the completion of a new training wing, thanks to the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO).
Working with industry partner Aspire Defence Ltd, DIO has delivered the improvements at the Wiltshire garrison through Project Allenby / Connaught, an £8bn construction and facilities management project.
The Larkhill scheme has seen the construction of 28 new buildings and 17 refurbishments including offices, workshops, messes and living accommodation.
A total of 1,098 new en suite bedrooms for single soldiers have also been built, with old buildings being demolished to make way for modern and spacious facilities.
The new training wing, for use by 32 Regt Royal Artillery, is the last facility to be finished and brings an end to the ambitious five-year development which has involved one-and-a-half million work hours and used more than 1,000,000 bricks.
The training wing provides four new self-contained classrooms providing soldiers with a much needed enhancement to their training facilities.
All of the new buildings will be maintained throughout the life of the Allenby / Connaught contract, which lasts until 2041 and demonstrates the MOD’s commitment to improving the living and working accommodation for military personnel and their families.
Major Mark Whittle, second in command 32 Regt RA, said:
“This is the final piece of a construction jigsaw that has seen Larkhill transformed into a garrison fit for 21st century soldiering. The improvements to our collective working and living environments and the first rate support services being provided are making a truly vital contribution to the military effectiveness of the units based in this garrison.”
Richard Tindal, Senior Project Manager, Aspire Defence Capital Works:
“I am very proud to have reached this significant milestone, of opening the last of the programmed new buildings at Larkhill, after five years of construction. The successful delivery has been down to a fantastic team effort by both Aspire staff and the whole supply chain along with our client, Project Allenby / Connaught and the Larkhill Garrison Management Team. I hope the Royal Artillery continues to enjoy the new facilities for many years to come.”
Project Allenby / Connaught aims to make life better for thousands of soldiers by providing modern, high quality, fully serviced, purpose-built living and working accommodation. The contract was awarded to Aspire Defence Limited, a joint venture between Carillion and KBR, in April 2006.
In addition to a £1.45 billion, 8-year construction programme, the project encompasses a wide range of support services including catering, cleaning, transport, estate management, document production and handling, stores and waste disposal.
The project has a total through life value of some £8 billion and covers army garrisons across Salisbury Plain and at Aldershot.
Ends
With picture- Caption: Brig Piers Hankinson celebrates the completion of construction at Larkhill Garrison with Aspire Defence Services Ltd’s Garrison Facilities Director Nicola Patterson. Crown Copyright/MOD/2013
Note for Editors
1. Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) is part of the Ministry of Defence (MOD). It is responsible for managing and maintaining land and properties to meet the current and future needs of the MOD and personnel at home and abroad, and to support current operations.
2. Our work includes providing, supporting and improving: operational units; single living and service family accommodation; training areas and historic military sites. DIO actively manages these to ensure the needs of Defence are met, value for money is achieved; our heritage is protected and we achieve our environmental goals.
Further information:
Press enquiries to Emma Sloper, Communications Officer 0121 311 2418
or email emma.sloper100@mod.uk
