6 Apr 06

Project Allenby/Connaught set to transform Army garrisons

• Aspire Defence Limited - a joint venture between Carillion, KBR and HSBC - wins £8bn Project Allenby/Connaught contract
• Unprecedented 35-year PFI contract will combine large scale construction programmes with comprehensive services provision
• 6 major construction projects consisting of 200 construction sites in Aldershot and across Salisbury Plain
• New or refurbished bedroom accommodation for approximately 11,000 Army personnel
• 18,000 Army and civilian personnel set to benefit from new and improved office accommodation and leisure facilities
• Long-term service provision at four garrisons across Southern England

Aspire Defence Ltd - a joint venture between Carillion, KBR and HSBC - today announced that it has been awarded the groundbreaking Project Allenby/Connaught contract by the Ministry of Defence. The project will transform Army garrisons at Aldershot and across Salisbury Plain over the next 35 years. It is the biggest single contract awarded that combines large scale construction programmes with such long-term and comprehensive facilities management services.

The unique defence PFI contract will deliver both construction and facilities management services from the outset, an approach that will provide the MoD with exceptional consistency, quality of service and long term value for money.

Chief Executive of Aspire Defence, Peter Smart, said: “We are delighted to have been appointed to Project Allenby/Connaught and are pleased to be working with the MoD to deliver modern accommodation and services to the Army. We have designed new garrison facilities that will create a positive, 21st Century environment in which Army personnel can live and work. We recognise that this is an important initiative for the Army and we are confident that by bringing the expertise of Carillion and KBR together we will deliver real benefits for British soldiers and value for money solutions for the Army.”

Between now and 2016, a £1.2 billion construction programme at garrisons in Aldershot and across Salisbury Plain (Tidworth, Bulford, Perham Down, Larkhill and Warminster) will provide over 7,000 soldiers with new en-suite accommodation.

A further 4,100 bedrooms are being refurbished as part of this project to meet the same modern standards. Using state of the art modular construction methods and traditional building techniques Aspire will provide a comprehensive range of new facilities to the Army. With more than 200 building sites across the 6 major construction projects, the contract will also provide new dining facilities, theatres and community centres to offer a high street style experience to Army personnel.

Aspire will also be providing more than 20 different services to the garrisons, ranging from housekeeping to mess management, grounds maintenance to stores management, the provision of utilities and white fleet management. Aspire will be working with specialist delivery partners, Sodexho, Lex Defence and MUJV (a joint venture between EDF Energy and Thames Water), to ensure the quality of service delivery meets the expectations of the MoD and Army.

The Under Secretary of State for Defence, Mr. Touhig, said “Project Allenby/Connaught is the largest estates PFI project the MoD has ever undertaken, and will see the significant redevelopment of Aldershot Garrison and garrisons in the Salisbury Plain area including the construction of several new barracks. In all the project will provide 18,000 military and civilian staff with brand new or refurbished living and working accommodation.

“The award of this contract is a major step forward and I look forward to a long and fruitful relationship with Aspire Defence Ltd.”