The Rt. Hon Tobias Ellwood MP officially opened the new build Junior Ranks’ Diner at Larkhill Garrison on Monday 17 June 2019.

This new ‘super diner’, which has seating for over 600 soldiers, has been delivered under the Army Basing Programme (ABP). The Diner also includes retail and bar facilities to provide a convenient ‘one-shop-stop’ for Larkhill Service personnel.

Minister for Defence People and Veterans Tobias Ellwood said:

“This diner, one of the biggest facilities of its kind in defence, is a fantastic example of money being invested into the estate to benefit our Service personnel. Catering for five Royal Artillery Regiments, I hope it will help our people unwind and refuel as they carry out their vital service to this country.”

In addition to catering assets, new and improved technical, office, single living accommodation and sports facilities are being provided across Salisbury Plain garrisons. Health and education facilities are also being delivered outside the barracks for military and civilian use and will complete in early 2020.

Major General Richard Wardlaw OBE, Director Basing & Infrastructure, said:

“The completion of this Diner was critical to enable the return of Service personnel from Germany this summer, and was delivered on time alongside a wider challenging construction programme. With our Service personnel and their families already moving to Wiltshire it is reassuring that the facilities they need to live, work and train will be in place.”

The ABP construction programme is being delivered by KBR Aspire Defence Capital Works under the Project Allenby/Connaught (PAC) contract with the MOD. On completion, the new assets will be maintained by KBR Aspire Defence Services Limited, until the PAC contract ends in 2041.

 

Notes to editors:

The Army Basing Programme is a joint DIO and Army programme set up to implement the Regular Army Basing Plan announced by the Secretary of State for Defence in March 2013. It will provide the facilities the Army needs to live, work and train in the UK as it returns from Germany, rebases across the UK and restructures to its future Army 2020

• DIO is part of the Ministry of Defence (MOD). It is responsible for managing and maintaining land and properties, as well as providing related support services, to meet the current and future needs of the MOD and personnel at home and abroad, and to support current operations.
• 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 MOD.
• 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 to 2041.
• ADCW and ADSL are owned by KBR.