Army Basing Programme wins two MOD environment awards

The Army Basing Programme (ABP) Salisbury Plain – described by the MOD as a project of ‘unprecedented scale’ – has received both the Sanctuary Sustainable Project and Sustainable Business Awards 2017.

The annual Awards recognise outstanding sustainable development initiatives being delivered across the defence estate on behalf of the MOD.

The ABP Salisbury Plain construction programme is being delivered by Aspire Defence Capital Works (ADCW) at Larkhill, Bulford, Tidworth and Perham Down, on behalf of the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO).  Around 120 new buildings will be completed, alongside hundreds of extensions, alterations and demolitions, to provide new and improved single living and working accommodation for troops withdrawing from Germany by 2019 and soldiers rebasing within the UK.

At the ceremony held in London on 22 November, the Sustainable Business Award was accepted by Mark Duddy, ABP Programme Director (DIO), and Major General Richard Wardlaw OBE, Director Basing & Infrastructure (Senior Responsible Owner), on behalf of the team working to deliver ABP, including Aspire Defence.

Mr Duddy said:

“There are many unsung heroes without whose dedicated contribution to the aims of the Army Basing Programme, not only would we not be on course to bring back the remaining 4,000 service personnel and their families by 2019, we would not have received the most deserved recognition for our contributions towards sustainability.”

In turn, the Sustainable Project Award recognised DIO technical specialists, key environmental stakeholders and their industry partners – including ADCW – for their ‘considerable’ contribution to the ABP, thanks to successful delivery of the Masterplan and securing planning approvals.

David Keeble from the Environmental Team at ADCW, who attended the Awards, said:

“We apply a sustainable approach across the ABP construction programme, from the planning and design of each asset through to the build process itself.  I was delighted to be a part of this Award, which recognises a commitment to sustainability across the whole project.  ADCW is part of a much bigger team working to improve, preserve and protect this part of the defence estate.”

The new assets being delivered by ADCW to support ABP boast numerous ‘green’ credentials, such as responsibly-sourced timber and solar roof panels to generate electricity for use on-garrison.  Over 90% of construction waste is being recycled.

ADCW also protects the wildlife native to all the garrisons under contract and within the surrounding landscape, through its bat, reptile, amphibian and butterfly conservation programmes and by habitat enhancement programmes to minimise potential temporary impacts from construction works.

Photo above: Members of the Joint Management Board at their December 2017 meeting with the Sanctuary Award trophies.

Back row left to right: Major Martin Hickie, SO1 Requirements, Army Basing and Infrastructure; Mark Furnival, Assistant Head Infra PAC, DIO; Matt Spearing, Commercial Director, ADCW; Ian Gardner, Head of Infrastructure PFIs, DIO; Chris Cockerill, Estates Technical Director & Chief Engineer, ADSL. 

Front row left to right: Vanessa Colyer, Operations Director, ADL; Mark Duddy, ABP Programme Director, DIO; Allan Thomson, Chief Executive, ADL; Kieran Ward, Assistant Head ABP PAC Delivery Lead; Paul Dempster, Managing Director, ADCW; Karen Smith, Assistant Head Commercial (PFIs), DIO.

ENDS/

Notes for editors:

1. Aspire Defence is improving living and working environments for British soldiers through provision of modern, high-quality, fully-serviced and purpose-built accommodation in Aldershot and across Salisbury Plain, under the 35-year Project Allenby/Connaught contract (PAC).  PAC is one of the largest infrastructure PFIs (Private Finance Initiative) ever let by the Ministry of Defence.
2. Aspire Defence is comprised of three entities – Aspire Defence Limited (ADL), Aspire Defence Capital Works (ADCW) and Aspire Defence Services Limited (ADSL).  ADL holds the contract with the MOD and is owned by three shareholders – KBR (45%) and funds managed by Innisfree (37.5%) and InfraRed (17.5%).  ADL sub-contracts to ADCW, which is delivering the construction to support the Army Basing Programme, and ADSL, responsible for a comprehensive range of facilities management services delivered over the 35 years of the contract. Both ADCW and ADSL are owned by KBR.