Aspire Defence worked closely with the Royal Artillery to help to co-ordinate their move from Woolwich in 2008, where they had been based for over 300 years, to their new regimental home at Larkhill Garrison on Salisbury Plain. This move was officially marked by the Regiment's Colonel in Chief and The Queen at a garden party hosted by the garrison during last summer.

Larkhill has been the headquarters of the Royal School of Artillery for some time and provides a centre of excellence for artillery training with a world class reputation. More than 2,000 students pass through the garrison each year on courses ranging from 3 to 13 weeks duration.

Larkhill Garrison is very close to the World Heritage site at Stonehenge and is therefore of significant importance to the local area and community.

During the preparations for Project Allenby/Connaught we engaged with numerous local and national organisations so that work undertaken at Larkhill Garrison meets the strict planning requirements in place around the World Heritage site.

The first new development at Larkhill Garrison is the training building for the Army’s Watchkeeper project which got underway in early 2008. In addition, the Newcome Hall Conference Centre is also managed by Aspire.

Facilities Management

In order to accommodate the Regimental home of the Royal Artillery, Aspire Defence Services Limited has already undertaken a number of alterations to the garrison including living and working accommodation and adapting the existing estate to house the ‘regimental heritage’ which includes cannons, railway guns, chandeliers, statues and a world renowned silver collection.

Aspire Defence Services Limited delivers a full range of services to the garrison, under the 35 year facilities management contract, including the management of living and working accommodation, catering, estates maintenance, cleaning, grounds maintenance and vehicle fleet management. 

Phased elements of construction work at Larkhill includes the new community centre providing a modern, flexible environment for the many activities which take place in the area. Local residents and organisations were consulted about the design of the new community centre and construction has now started.