27 Jun 08

Over 200 soldiers from 27 Transport Regiment recently returned from demanding operations in Afghanistan, moved straight into their new high quality, single living, en-suite ‘flats’ which were delivered in record time by Aspire Defence under Project Allenby/Connaught at Aldershot Garrison, the Home of the British Army.

Under Secretary of State for Defence, Derek Twigg MP will join Aspire Defence, the MoD and the soldiers from 27 Transport Regiment to mark a significant step forward in the regeneration of Armed Forces accommodation on Thursday 26 June. Together with the Army’s Regional Forces Commander, Lieutenant General Nick Parker, he will ‘officially’ open the soldiers’ new living accommodation and dining facilities in Aldershot.

Garrisons across Salisbury Plain and Aldershot are being transformed under the MoD’s largest estates PFI – Project Allenby/Connaught – which is providing fully serviced accommodation for 20% of the British Army, improving the quality of life for around 19,000 servicemen and women, improvements that are essential to the MoD and Army in their drive to recruit and retain high quality soldiers.

The PFI contract with Aspire Defence Ltd, a joint venture between Carillion and KBR, is a £8 billion programme of redevelopment that runs over 35 years.

Peter Smart, chief executive, Aspire Defence said, “This project is all about making life better for soldiers and I am very clear we are doing that.  Commanding Officers tell me that it is already having a positive impact on their retention rate, and that is excellent. It would not have been possible however without the very strong partnering relationship which we and our shareholders KBR and Carillion have with the MoD on this project.”

The most significant and positive impact of the contract, is that Aspire Defence is delivering and maintaining 11,500 single en-suite bedrooms together with a whole range of buildings that can be found in any small town from dining centres to sports facilities and technical stores. Alongside this Aspire Defence is providing a broad range of services from the provision of transport to catering, from tailoring of uniforms to stores management – almost everything needed to run a military garrison – supporting the changing needs of the Army.

Chairman, Arthur Moore added, “Today is a major milestone for Aspire Defence and it clearly demonstrates what the private sector can achieve in partnership with the Army and the Ministry of Defence; on time, on budget and with a long term commitment to high standards of quality. We were able to bring forward the programme in order for the regiment to move straight in after their operational tour of Afghanistan. The Carillion/KBR services and construction joint ventures have worked hard to make today possible to the great credit of both organisations. For all of us it is another step on a 35 year journey making soldiers’ lives better through the provision of modern living and working accommodation.“