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Project Allenby Connaught
Project Allenby/Connaught is a 35 year commitment to provide modern, high quality, fully serviced, purpose built living and working accommodation for 18,700 soldiers
Allenby/Connaught project summary
Project Allenby/Connaught has one simple mission – to make life better for some 18,700 soldiers (nearly 20% of the British army) by providing modern, high quality, fully serviced, purpose-built living and working accommodation. The contract was awarded to Aspire Defence Limited, a joint venture between Carillion and KBR, in April 2006.
In addition to a major £1.45 billion, 8 year construction programme involving the new build or refurbishment of 562 buildings and the demolition of 496, the 35 year project encompasses a wide range of support services including catering, cleaning, transport, estate management, document production and handling, stores and waste disposal. The project has a total through life value of some £8 billion and covers army garrisons across Salisbury Plain and at Aldershot.
On average, one new building is delivered to the army each week. Buildings include offices, stores, training facilities, dining centres, sports and leisure facilities, but the core is 261 accommodation units and in all the project will deliver or maintain 11,500 single en-suite bedspaces for single soldiers. This is not just a "quick fix". Buildings will not be allowed to degenerate and they will be maintained throughout the life of the contract.
A key feature of the contract is the help desk physically located at each of the garrisons. The help desk provides a telephone, walk in and email point of contact for advice and assistance on all of the services that Aspire are responsible for 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The helpdesks receive an average of 5,600 calls per month of which in excess of 98% are answered within 30 seconds.
- in the first 6 years since the project began over 9,000 bed spaces have been delivered
- 466 new and refurbished buildings constructed and 423 demolitions completed with 97% re-use of material
- over 2 million meals served annually
Contact details
Secretariat and Communications
Project Allenby/Connaught
Wellington House
St Omer Barracks
tel: 01252 348245
email: email@example.com
Who are Aspire Defence?
Aspire Defence is comprised of three entities:
- Aspire Defence Limited (ADL)
- Aspire Defence Capital Works (ADCW)
- Aspire Defence Services Limited ADSL).
ADL is a special purpose vehicle set up specifically to deliver the 35-year Project Allenby/Connaught (PAC) awarded to ADL in 2006. The PAC contract aims to improve soldiers' quality of life across the Salisbury Plain Training Area and at Aldershot. As a private finance initiative, funds were raised through a combination of bond funding and equity to complete the initial construction phase of the project. ADL is owned by three shareholders - KBR (45%) and funds managed by Innisfree (37.5%) and InfraRed (17.5%). Both ADCW and ADSL are owned by KBR.
From 2006 to 2014 ADCW completed a construction programme involving some 500 new or refurbished buildings to enhance the defence estate at the five garrisons it serves (Aldershot, Tidworth, Bulford, Larkhill, Perham Down and Warminster). In 2016, a variation to the PAC contract was signed to provide more infrastructure for around 4,000 personnel relocating under the Army Basing Programme.
By 2020 ADCW will have delivered around 130 buildings, ranging from single living accommodation and dining facilities to garages, stores and technical buildings. Approximately 200 extensions, alterations and refurbishments will also be completed. The new and improved accommodation will ensure that soldiers live, work and train in the best possible environments.
ADSL works with a number of key partners and a small number of support contractors to continue to deliver a broad range of hard and soft facilities management services across the garrisons including building, utilities and grounds maintenance, catering, stores management, transport, and Helpdesk and leisure services. Teams are based at each garrison location providing accommodation and support services for the Army.
Contact details
Aspire Defence
Aspire Business Centre
Ordnance Road
Wilts, SP9 7QD
Tel: 01980 886000
Agreement reached with Aspire Defence Limited
Information on the agreement reached with Aspire Defence Limited - April 2006
Agreement on Land Command's Project Allenby/Connaught, the largest estates private finance initiative (PFI) project the MOD has ever undertaken, has been reached with Aspire Defence Limited. The contract, which will last for 35 years, will provide modern living and working accommodation for some 18,000 military and civilian personnel in Aldershot garrison and in garrisons located in the Salisbury Plain training area. It has a particular focus on single living accommodation providing nearly 11,000 single en-suite bed spaces. It will also include new dining facilities, theatres and community centres offering a high street style experience to army personnel. The project also encompasses a number of other support services including domestic services, estate management, document production and handling, stores, transport and waste disposal.
Service delivery commenced across the project footprint during July 2006, starting at Tidworth, Netheravon and Bulford Garrison on 10 July, Aldershot Garrison on 17 July and in Larkhill and Warminster Garrisons on 24 July. 381 civil service posts have TUPE transferred. This followed the formal 90 day TU consultation period, which commenced on 31 March 2006. There have been no redundancies as a result of this transfer.
Aldershot Garrison facts
Information on Aldershot Garrison
Facts on what PAC has delivered at Aldershot as at end October 2011
- 57 new buildings including:
- Wellington House – HQ of Ald Gar and 77 AEC
- 1 junior ranks super diner
- 1 pub
- 22 new 36-man SLA blocks
- 8 new 8-man houses
- 7 new 48-man student blocks
- 1 training wing
- 2 offices
- 4 technical Stores
- community centre
- combat sports centre
- 1 guardroom and armoury
- 1 'Pair and Share' officers mess
- 8 refurbished/altered buildings
- 121 demolitions
- 1,322 single en-suite bedspaces
Major milestones:
- contract award - 31 March 2006
- construction start - May 2006
- service commencement - July 2006
- first key milestone – Wellington House - Oct 2007
- St Omer phase 2 commenced - Jan 2009
- construction phase completed - Dec 2014
- end of contract - 2041
Project Allenby/Connaught in Aldershot
- 35-year contract with Aspire Defence Ltd
- home to approximately 4,800
- 102 new buildings, 23 refurbished, 12 altered and 151 demolitions
- create, maintain and refurbish 2,809 single en-suite bedrooms
- local helpdesk available 24/7, 365 days a year
- junior ranks dining centre delivered in March 2008. Capable of seating 450 soldiers at one sitting
- St Omer phase 2 commenced Jan 2009 with 35 demolitions and 35 new buildings
- 2,900,000 safe man-hours have been worked without a serious incident.
- Aldershot construction has an approximate value of £405 million
- helpdesk exceeding contractually stipulated deadline to answer 98.4% of all calls within 30 seconds. The number of calls average 900 per month.
- Aldershot Garrison radio
Garrisons within the project
- Tidworth and Bulford Garrison
- Larkhill
- Warminster
Preserving the past
Many buildings on the PAC site at Tidworth date back to the early 1900s.
Although many are due to be refurbished a large number of them have been demolished to allow for the provision of 21st century living accommodation.
To allow the demolition programme to proceed, it was agreed with English Heritage that a comprehensive historic building recording programme should be completed.
The programme, now complete, ensured the layout, structure and form of the buildings was recorded for posterity. It involved surveys and photography to record the important features, their setting and relationships to each other.
Together with this historic record a set of buildings within the Jellalabad barracks complex have been retained and formally listed in order to preserve them as a representative example of the military barracks of the Edwardian period.
The building recording programme was carried out using leading edge laser scanning technology which allows virtual 'fly throughs' of the site to show the layout and format of the site before demolition began.
The use of state-of-the–art recording techniques represents one of the largest digital scanning programmes to be carried out in Europe and will preserve a visual presentation of how the site looked for posterity.
Our commitment towards preserving significant artefacts was clearly illustrated in January 2007 when an excavator was carrying out a soil strip in Bhurtpore Barracks, Tidworth. He uncovered what turned out to be 3 Bronze Age pots full of human bone fragments.
The area was sealed off to allow Wessex Archaeology to investigate the find. They confirmed that the graves were 3,500 years old, making them the oldest finds from Tidworth.
Due to the close relationships that had developed between the parties there is a mutually agreed procedure to be followed in the event of such a find. The twin interests of documenting and preserving this significant archaeological find and maintaining progress on a major construction programme were both satisfied. Work resuming on the site within 2 days.
Project Allenby/Connaught news
Army takes delivery of 200th building in Bulford
A senior non-commissioned officer single living accommodation block became the 200th building to be accepted into service by the Ministry of Defence under Project Allenby/Connaught – the 35 year contract through which Aspire Defence, a joint venture between KBR and Carillion, is replacing and improving army living and working accommodation across the garrisons of Salisbury Plain and Aldershot.
The building, dating back to the early 1970s and located in Picton Barracks, Bulford, has been substantially refurbished to bring it up to 21st century standards with former 2 and 3 man rooms converted into 29 single en-suite rooms with modern finishes, furniture and fittings. Gone are the communal washrooms which have been converted into utility rooms, baggage stores and living out changing facilities. This newly refurbished accommodation block will be occupied by members of the sergeants mess 4 Military Intelligence Battalion.
The handover marks a significant milestone for Aspire Defence and the Ministry of Defence. In a little over 3 years 200 buildings including living accommodation, restaurants, regimental headquarters, messes, armouries, stores and leisure facilities have been built or refurbished, with on average, more than 1 new building being completed each week.
Once handed over, they are maintained by Aspire Defence Services Limited which provides a broad range of services: from technical stores management to tailoring of uniforms, from the provision of transport to catering – in fact just about everything needed to run a military garrison other than the physical security and guarding. These services will continue to be delivered for the full 35-year term of the contract. These improvements are helping to make soldiers lives better by creating a modern living and working environment on the garrisons.
Doug Weidner, the MOD's project Mmanager, commented: "To deliver 200 buildings in just over 3 years, on time and in some cases ahead of schedule, is a great credit to all those involved with this landmark project, which really is making soldiers lives better. The MOD and Aspire set out to provide, on average, 1 building a week, and here we are delivering on that commitment and indeed exceeding it."
Peter Smart, Chief Executive, Aspire Defence said: "This is an important achievement in a continuing success story. With 200 buildings delivered, we now have close to 3,600 soldiers living in the new accommodation. That means a step-change to the quality of life for those people and a real sense of satisfaction for all of those in Aspire Defence and the MOD who have worked so hard to bring this about".
In all, in excess of 540 new and refurbished buildings, including 105 in Bulford, will be delivered and serviced under Project Allenby/Connaught, creating campus-style communities with high quality accommodation, amenities and services for some 18,700 soldiers – 20% of the British Army.
Aspire Defence continues to manage the changes, carrying out demolition and construction on numerous sites across the garrisons, often working alongside the army as they continue their everyday activities. Diggers and dumper trucks can often be seen next to tanks, horses and soldiers operating in a safe and considerate environment.
Bats in line for a good night's sleep at new army barracks
As children up and down the land prepare to celebrate Halloween, the army have been doing their bit to ensure that one of the creatures most closely associated with the annual ghoulish celebration - the bat - will soon be able to look forward to a good night's sleep.
Some of the buildings at the army's latest purpose-built new barracks at Tidworth in Wiltshire have been specially designed to help house protected bats meaning soldiers aren't the only ones to benefit from them.
Over 700 special 'bat bricks' – designed to mimic the bats natural habitat of cracks and crevasses - are being installed as part of a 35-year £8 billion rebuilding programme that is seeing new barracks and military offices being put up around Wiltshire and Hants.
The bat bricks (essentially bricks with holes in them for bats to roost in) along with cavity voids, partitioned loft spaces and squeeze boxes, are placed in the brickwork and lofts of the barracks where bats may roost.
Bats are a protected species and ensuring they have new roosts is an important part of the refurbishment and rebuilding programme which is seeing old Victorian barracks being replaced by state-of-the-art new ones.
It may seem 'batty' but the commitment to look after the bats is just one of a number of innovative environmental initiatives put in place by the MOD and the contractor, Aspire Defence. Rainwater is collected and used in the building process and thermal panels have been used to help provide hot water. Over 90% of the waste from the old demolished buildings will be re-used on the site.
MOD spokesman Paul Munro said:
Looking after the bats is one of a number of initiatives we and Aspire Defence have undertaken to help look after the environment. It is important we look after bats such as the brown long eared and common pipistrelles. It is a huge project and we commission a survey by a licensed bat worker of every old building before it is demolished and make sure there are new bat roosts in the modern accommodation buildings to compensate.
Defence Estates have set up a number of projects in recent years to protect wildlife. A project to protect a Bronze Age burial site on MOD land from a clan of badgers, while resettling the badgers at the same time, won the MOD's 2007 Sanctuary Award. The Sanctuary Awards recognise both groups and individual efforts towards conservation of MOD land in the UK or overseas.
Commander in Chief visits new barracks for Royal Engineers
The Commander in Chief Land Forces, General Sir Peter Wall KCB CBE, visited Perham Down to mark the completion of the newly rebuilt Swinton Barracks - home to 22 and 26 Engineer Regiments, by Project Allenby/Connaught. General Wall was received by the MOD's project manager Mr Andrew Mathewson and Aspire Defence's chief executive Peter Smart, before being taken on a tour of the new barracks by the commanding officer of 22 Engineer Regiment, Lt Col Andy Noble.
General Wall met soldiers from 22 Engineer Regiment in one of their new modern junior ranks single living accommodation blocks. The soldiers now benefit from living in single ensuite facilities - a far cry from the old barrack rooms with shared ablutions. Each accommodation block provides 36 ensuite bedrooms split into '6 room flats' each of which have their own communal room, kitchen, utility, drying room and space to store extra kit.
22 Engineer Regiment's Regimental Sergeant Major WO1 (RSM) Padley then invited the Commander in Chief into the new 'shared facility' - the warrant officers and sergeants mess - where he met mess members and was shown how both regiments use the flexible layout to host individual and joint functions.
The visit concluded at the junior ranks dining centre where General Wall was shown the new catering and dining facilities, as well as the café bar, shop, internet cafe and clubs provided on site for the soldiers. General Wall commented:
I am delighted to be at Perham Down today to mark the completion of a new barracks for 22 and 26 Engineer Regiments. The standard of accommodation – living, working and recreational - is nothing short of first class. The guaranteed maintenance element of the contract is also novel and should ensure the continued high standard over time.
The General continued: "Talking to some of the soldiers here today, I was pleased to hear how much they appreciate their new environment, and these superb facilities. This project and others across the country are delivering new campus-style barracks, with en suite accommodation – just what we need for our people in the 21st century.
I served at Perham Down when it was first built in 1975. That barracks had run its course and had become dilapidated and unsuitable over 30 plus years. The transformation here under Allenby/Connaught has been spectacular and we have similar progress elsewhere under this project. There is of course a long way to go to ensure that all our soldiers are provided with the very best living and working accommodation but this is an important step down that path."
Peter Smart, Aspire chief executive said: "It's a great achievement in a little over 3 years. This is the first complete camp delivered by Project Allenby/Connaught and provides soldiers with the standard of accommodation they deserve. Across the project we now have 4,000 soldiers living in modern, purpose built single ensuite rooms - just like the soldiers here today. Aspire Defence is proud that the provision of this first class accommodation and supporting services is directly improving the soldiers' quality of life."
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Affordability and risk
How will the MOD ensure it gets value for money? This project equates to a quarter of the defence budget.
It should be noted that expenditure is spread over a 35-year period and needs to be considered in that context. The annual cost of this project is less that 1% of the defence budget.
A Public Sector Comparator (PSC) was prepared which represented what the MOD would do if a PFI were not an option. The PSC has been used as a benchmark against which the bids from the private sector have been compared to ensure that best value for money is being achieved. Also the contract has been negotiated such that services are periodically benchmarked throughout the life of the contract, thus ensuring continuous value for money.
Why was the PFI option the most appropriate?
Aside from the financial benefits, the PFI solution offered a number of qualitative benefits compared to the PSC, including:
- a single partner providing assured standards over 35 years, underwritten by a taut incentivised payment mechanism
- transfer of key risks, such as planning permission, design maintenance and construction, etc, to the commercial sector
- faster build programme
- enhanced residual value and condition of accommodation at end of contract
Why is this project so important?
Together, the Salisbury Plain Training Area and the Aldershot Garrison accommodate nearly 18,000 military personnel. This is nearly 20% of the army's overall strength, which underlines the importance of this project to the army.
How will Aspire Defence Limited provide value for money?
Aspire Defence Limited is a Special Purpose Vehicle set up specifically for the project and brings together Carillion and Kellogg Brown and Root in a consortium. They bring a wealth of experience in managing large scale and long term PFI projects. We are working closely with Aspire and are confident that the contractual obligations placed on both parties will deliver a value for money product.
Under the PFI, Aspire will be responsible for the key construction and support related risks, such as maintenance and through life costs. Performance will be incentivised by a payment mechanism linked to performance and availability.
Services will be subject to benchmarking and/or market testing 10 years after financial close and every 7 years thereafter.
How can you be sure of that when only 2 bidders were considered?
A number of responses were received as a result of Official Journal of the European Community advertisement. Following a pre-qualification exercise 3 bidders were issued with an invitation to negotiate. One bidder withdrew in October 2002 leaving 2 in the competition - Abraxis and Aspire Defence Limited. Both companies submitted comprehensive bids, which were subject to a full technical, financial and commercial evaluation, compared at all the stages with the PSC. We are satisfied that this rigorous process has identified a value for money option.
Is this project affordable?
Yes. The project remains within affordability levels agreed by ministers.
Given the prolonged negotiations has the affordability position worsened?
No. Negotiations have been complex and lengthy but this has been necessary to ensure that the project remains affordable and will deliver value for money.
Is the plan to invest considerable sums in Aldershot and Salisbury Plain safe?
One of the strategic aims set out in Defence Estate Strategy 2006 is to have an estate of the right size to meet the military need. This will be an estate of fewer, larger sites in the UK and overseas, appropriately located and making the best use of available resources while remaining fully capable of meeting military needs. Sites identified as having the potential for future development include Aldershot and Salisbury Plain.
The strategy for the army estate contains a concept of 'super garrisons' of which Salisbury Plain and Aldershot are 2, into which under any future organisational changes the army will seek to concentrate. Therefore while some units might relocate or be disbanded, they will be back-filled by units from other locations. The requirement for significant investment in the garrisons included within the project footprint is therefore robust.
What happens if there are delays in the construction programme? Will Aspire be held, financially, to account?
The 'design build and transition' plan is very taut with delay damages imposed if key delivery dates (both construction and land release) are not met and the programme slips as a result.
What is the estimated value of the contract?
The current estimated value of the potential PFI contract is approximately £1.4 billion in capital expenditure and a total through life value of circa £8 billion in today's money.
How is the money being spent?
Approximately half the construction costs will be on new builds, the other half on refurbishment and demolition. The major construction sites will be in Aldershot, Tidworth and Bulford garrisons.
PFI and background to the project
Why is this PFI attractive to a private organisation?
Project Allenby/Connaught is a long term venture of 35 years with a scale and diversity that brings efficiencies and gives Aspire Defence the chance to invest in facilities and staff. It also provides a high degree of stability.
How long will the contract last?
The term of the PFI contract will be for 35 years. A range of contract durations were considered, taking into account risk transfer, flexibility, balance and value for money. This concluded that 35 years was the best option as it allows the MOD to transfer life cycle risk.
What are the key milestones?
- commercial close – March 2006
- contract award – March 2006
- financial close – April 2006
- TUPE transfer – July 2006
- service commencement – July 2006
- return of 2 RTR – July 2007
- completion of construction phase – early 2014
- end of contract - 2041
Why has it taken so long?
It took longer than expected. This is a highly complex PFI contract and we had to ensure that the contractual details for were absolutely right for a contract lasting 35 years.
Can this project adapt to further changes in the requirement?
Yes. The accommodation design is flexible enough to accommodate changes. However, where this is not possible a change mechanism to meet new requirements in a timely and value for money fashion is in place.
Why was Project Allenby/Connaught set up?
More army units, along with their associated personnel and equipment, needed to use and/or be accommodated in the garrisons adjacent to the Salisbury Plain Training Area and within Aldershot Garrison. A reorganisation of force structures also resulted in some unit moves. A project team, Allenby/Connaught, was established to examine the best way of meeting these requirements. The ultimate aim was to improve the living and working environment of all personnel, while achieving long term value for money and it is flexible enough to take into account any new additional initiatives.
Why did the MOD decide to run a PFI competition?
Project Allenby/Connaught undertook a detailed study into the army's accommodation requirements. This included reviewing opportunities for rationalising the army estate and increasing efficiency in the provision of associated support services. The study found that a considerable amount of investment is required to meet these requirements and, it was decided to explore the potential for private sector investment through a PFI.
What is a PFI?
A private finance initiative project is one in which the private sector partner invests in assets and facilities from which it then provides services over the long term to the public sector. In the case of Allenby/Connaught the private sector will provide serviced accommodation and other support services. PFIs are widely used both within the MOD and across the wider public sector. MOD has PFIs for housing, simulators, vehicles, office accommodation and training establishments. Other sectors use PFI for roads, schools, hospitals, rail and office accommodation.
A PFI is a mechanism where a contractor borrows money against a future income stream and uses the borrowings to fund the construction phase. The risk of delivering the new facilities and the services over the long term period passes to the contractor.
How was the project advertised?
The project sought expressions of interest from industry through an advertisement in the Official Journal of the European Community (OJEC). Details were also published in MOD Contract Bulletins, Government Opportunities, Works Services Opportunities and relevant trade press and journals.
A number of responses were received as a result of the OJEC advertisement. Following a 'pre qualification' exercise 3 bidders were issued with an 'invitation to negotiate'. One bidder withdrew in October 2002 leaving 2 in the competition - Abraxis and Aspire Defence Limited. An evaluation of these bids and internal approvals procedures concluded when Aspire Defence Limited were appointed as the 'preferred bidder'.
Who are Aspire Defence Limited?
Aspire Defence Limited has been established specifically for the project and brings together Carillion and Kellogg Brown & Root (KBR) in a consortium committed to Allenby/Connaught.
Construction and service delivery
What will happen at the start of the contract?
During the first 8 years of the contract there will be a significant capital works programme (new buildings/demolition/refurbishment). This started in the areas of greatest need (Aldershot, Perham Down and Tidworth) and will involve the construction of new buildings that would cover an area twice the size of Hyde Park.
|Serial (a)
|Construction Start Date (c)
|Construction End Date (d)
|Remarks (e)
|May 2006
|Dec 2013
|Jan 2007
|Jun 2013
|Apr 2008
|Mar 2013
|Perham Down
|May 2006
|Oct 2011
|Jan 2008
|Mar 2014
|May 2006
|Dec 2014
Three months after contract award Aspire started to provide an extensive range of support services, these will be provided over the 35 year term of the contract.
What accommodation will the project provide?
The project will provide modern living and working accommodation, for some 18,700 military personnel in the Salisbury Plain and Aldershot garrisons. This includes the provision of some 11,500 single room ensuite bed spaces for service personnel, messes, cookhouses, junior ranks clubs, and storage.
How many buildings will be demolished?
Based on current plans, in excess of 450 buildings will be demolished across the project footprint.
Surely they are not all beyond economic repair and could be used for something else?
Many of the sites within the projects footprint have been in use since the early 1900s and much of the built estate dates back to that time. Although there have been some new buildings on these sites, much of the accommodation is beyond its economic life, and is also unfit for today's need, eg, shared rooms instead of single rooms.
Aspire has compiled a detailed programme of construction and where necessary demolition, in order to meet the army's requirements. Buildings for which future use remains unclear will be made "wind and weather proof" in order to reserve our position and reduce costs.
Why are you building so much new accommodation?
In many instances new construction is the only way of meeting the requirement to the appropriate standard.
It is acknowledged that some accommodation has been unsuitable for housing soldiers. A number of projects have been undertaken, eg, Project SLAM, to alleviate this problem and Project Allenby/Connaught is a further example.
What sites are affected by the project?
The following army sites in Hampshire and Wiltshire are affected: Aldershot; Bulford; Larkhill; Netheravon; Ludgershall; Perham Down; Tidworth and Warminster.
How many buildings are affected by site?
|Peham Down
What services will be provided by Aspire?
Aspire will provide a wide range of services including the management of nearly 1,000 green and white fleet vehicles, the management of garrison stores facilities, catering (some 430 military catering staff will assist them), domestic services, utilities and waste management.
Is this a further example of government reluctance to invest in areas other than the south & south east?
The Strategic Defence Review (SDR) identified a requirement for more army units, along with their associated personnel and equipment, to use and/or be accommodated in the garrisons adjacent to the Salisbury Plain Training Area and within Aldershot Garrison. This project is key to successful delivery of this requirement.
The MOD is investing in the army estate across the UK and is not concentrating on the south and south east. Moreover, we are acting in accordance with Lyons principles in terms of overall MOD numbers in the south east.
Will this project only provide opportunities for companies in the south?
Project Allenby/Connaught will provide substantial benefits to the wider UK economy through the use of many sub-contractors involved in off-site construction. For example, it has guaranteed a large number of jobs at the Corus factory in Shotton, North Wales.
Personnel Issues
What impact has there been on MOD staff?
Approximately 380 MOD civil service posts were transferred to the Aspire Defence Limited consortium under TUPE rules. TUPE legislation protects the terms and conditions of transferring employees. Occupational pensions are outside the scope of TUPE legislation however the MOD requires that when its staff transfer to a private company they are offered a pension scheme by their new employer that is comparable to their existing civil service scheme. There were no redundancies.
What support services are affected by the project?
The project encompasses a wide range of support services including domestic services, estate management, document production and handling, stores, transport and waste disposal. Some of these services are currently provided within the public sector while others are already provided through existing contracts.
What about those who were employed under existing contracts?
The 1,800 personnel employed through existing contracts transferred to the Aspire Defence supply chain.
Will the PFI create any additional employment opportunities?
It is likely that opportunities will be created, particularly on the construction phase of the project. The urban regeneration programme planned in Aldershot will also create significant employment opportunities.
How many?
It is difficult to quantify this.
What is the urban regeneration programme in Aldershot?
As a result of plans proposed by Aspire Defence, Project Allenby/Connaught will enable the release of a large area of land south of the Basingstoke Canal. Defence Estates, in conjunction with Rushmoor Borough Council, have developed a solution that will facilitate the redevelopment of the area. There are plans to provide a range of housing solutions including affordable homes for key workers in the area.
Will the setting up of a MOD PFI review body affect the signing of this contract?
No. The Public Finance Unit will ensure that the MOD receives the best value for money and that best practice/lessons learned from previous PFIs are shared with the Allenby/Connaught project team. Likewise, Project Allenby/Connaught will share lessons learned for the benefit of future PFIs.
Does the project cover family quarters?
The project does not encompass family quarters.
Have the public been consulted?
Each of the garrisons affected by the project remains closely engaged with the local community. The normal processes for informing the public on planning proposals have been followed.
How will it benefit local communities?
Community interests have been considered and regular liaison with local authorities and community groups has taken place. It is envisaged that a particular benefit to arise from the project will be the opportunities for closer integration between military and civilian communities. This could occur for example in areas such as further shared use of leisure, recreational and community centre facilities.
What community facilities are proposed?
New theatres and family centres, and additional, complementary sports facilities will be provided. For example, new community centres at Larkhill and Warminster and a new theatre at Tidworth, all of which will be available to the local residents as well as army personnel and families.
Have all local councils and authorities been fully consulted? How have they been involved?
The scale of the proposed developments means that close co-ordination with regional government offices, county and district councils as well as statutory bodies and non-governmental organisations has been essential. The local authorities have been consulted on traffic, schooling and primary health care. Planning authorities have been engaged at all stages and their agreement to proceed has been essential.
What consideration has been given to environmental issues?
Full external scrutiny of the project has been undertaken and the new and refurbished buildings will be BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Methodology) compliant. All new builds are required to achieve a BREEAM 'Excellent' rating and any refurbishment must achieve a BREEAM 'Very Good' rating. Also, as part of their contractual obligations, Aspire are required to implement key environmental efficiencies such as rainwater harvesting, solar thermal and combined heat and power solutions.
The project team and Aspire are working very closely with county and district councils, the Environment Agency, English Heritage, English Nature and others to ensure that environmental and sustainability issues are taken into account. The assessment of potential environmental impacts has progressed jointly with local authorities and statutory bodies and various reports have been submitted as part of the consultation process.
In addition, separate studies have been commissioned for Aldershot and Salisbury Plain Training Areas and have been used to support the project's proposals. The project will adhere to sustainable development principles and environmental management systems. Aspire Defence has undertaken a full environmental impact assessment to support their detailed plans.
Will the new constructions be energy efficient?
Yes. Buildings will have solar panels, rainwater harvesting and metering. Buildings will be regularly monitored to ensure that energy efficiencies are maximised. Buildings will also conform to the latest standards for insulation.
What will happen to listed buildings, monuments or those designated as being of historic importance?
Any renovation or refurbishment will take full account of relevant regulations.
Are there any plans to demolish any of these buildings?
No. Retention of listed buildings has been the subject of negotiation with the planning authorities.
What will happen to the land no longer required by the army?
This will be handed to MOD Defence Estates who will manage its future use including, where appropriate, disposal.
Will any land be sold?
Yes, there are plans to alienate areas particularly in Aldershot, where some 160 hectares will be disposed of. This will be managed by Defence Estates. The MOD and Rushmoor Borough Council are working closely together on developing an overall plan for the redevelopment of Aldershot which includes the provision of affordable housing.
How much revenue do you expect to realise from this disposal?
This information is commercial-in-confidence. Negotiations are ongoing regarding the disposal of surplus land.
Will Aldershot remain home to the British army?
Yes. There is a commitment by the army to Aldershot which can be demonstrated by the early construction programme included in the project.
Are Salisbury Plain and Aldershot going to be made into 'super garrisons'?
The strategy for the army estate contains a concept of 'super garrisons' of which Salisbury Plain and Aldershot are two.
Garrisons within the project
Information on the major garrisons that are within the Project Allenby/Connaught area.
The Allenby/Connaught project will redevelop the army barracks in Aldershot and around Salisbury Plain to create modern and flexible living and working environments for soldiers; including delivery of a wide range of support services, from catering and cleaning, to transport, utilities and stores management.
It has a particular focus on single living accommodation (SLA) providing nearly 11,500 'Z' standard (single ensuite) bedrooms. It also enables the disposal of a large area of land in the Aldershot area. The project has an expected value of £8 billion over 35 years.
Larkhill Garrison
What PAC delivered at Larkhill by October 2011
- 33 new/refurbished buildings including:
- Watchkeeper and Bowman training buildings
- 13 new 36-man blocks
- 7 new 8-man houses
- 2 refurbished JR block
- community centre
- 3 new workshops
- 1 refurbished officers mess
- 2 new SNCO SLA blocks
- 821 new single ensuite bed spaces
- 26 demolitions completed
Key milestones:
- contract award - 31 March 2006
- construction start - Apr 2008
- Service commencement - Jul 2006
- first major milestone – Watchkeeper TRG building - Feb 2009
- construction phase completed - Jul 2012
- end of contract - 2041
Project Allenby/Connaught in Larkhill
- 35-year contract with Aspire Defence Ltd
- home to approximately 1,800 soldiers
- 28 new buildings, 14 refurbished, 6 altered and 37 demolitions
- create, maintain and refurbish 1,424 single en-suite bedrooms
- local helpdesk available 24/7, 365 days a year
- nearly 1,000,000 safe man-hours have been worked without serious incident
- Larkhill construction has an approximate value of £72 million
- helpdesk exceeding contractually stipulated deadline to answer 98.4% of all calls within 30 seconds. The number of calls average 700 per month.
Looking ahead
Sustainability issues never stand still and the project will embrace new and useful initiatives and techniques as they emerge.
BIOMASS option - self-generating energy solutions which include the use of rapeseed oil and wood chippings to provide heating/water on an industrial scale are actively considered.
Using BIOMASS as a fuel offers a number of advantages: it is a carbon neutral process and can offer potential economic advantages when a local fuel supply is used.
Project Allenby/Connaught is participating in field trials for Project Charcoal. The project is being carried out by the Universities of Surry and Sheffield with the forestry commission and has a funding of £500,000.
Project Charcoal is the research into the effect of the introduction of charcoal treated with selected micro-organisms to contaminated soil. Charcoal treatments have been shown to provide exceptional results in terms of controlling or eliminating pollutants. While at the same time using renewable, sustainable materials and standard construction techniques.
It is hoped that this technology, once proven, could bring widespread benefits to the wider UK redevelopment industry.
Modular construction
Accommodation blocks using modular construction
In excess of 350 new buildings will be erected during the project's 8 year construction programme, a large number of which will be provided through offsite modular construction.
The various bedrooms (with ensuite shower rooms), lounge, utility room, storage area, corridor and bathroom modules are constructed under factory conditions. These are made to a virtually complete standard and then transported to site for assembly into a completed building.
This method offers a higher and more consistent quality control and a more cost effective solution than traditional onsite methods. It also presents other benefits from a sustainability standpoint.
- shorter build time – factory construction of a module takes about a week. The assembly of the modules onsite into a 36 man, 6 man flat, accommodation block takes a further 5 days. The brickwork outer skin and roofing taking just over 4 weeks. This is a saving on overheads, cost of capital and provides the facility for earlier use
- low carbon footprint - less energy is required to produce the modules given the economies of scale associated with the manufacturing facility
- the risk of weather damage to components is reduced by pre-fabrication offsite thus minimising unnecessary wastage
- the ability to stockpile modules within the factory to protect critical timelines on the construction programme
- health and safety performance is improved as most of the works are completed in a controlled factory setting
This sustainable approach is entirely consistent with ensuring rapid progress on a project the scale of PAC.
Project Allenby/Connaught: summary
Project Allenby/Connaught has one simple mission – to make life better for some 18,700 soldiers (nearly 20% of the British Army) by providing modern, high quality, fully serviced, purpose-built living and working accommodation. The contract was awarded to Aspire Defence Limited, a joint venture between Carillion and KBR, in April 2006.
In addition to a major £1.45 billion 8-year construction programme involving the new build or refurbishment of 562 buildings and the demolition of 496, the 35 year project encompasses a wide range of support services including catering, cleaning, transport, estate management, document production and handling, stores and waste disposal. The project has a total through life value of some £8 billion and covers army garrisons across Salisbury Plain and at Aldershot.
On average, one new building is delivered to the army each week. Buildings include offices, stores, training facilities, dining centres, sports and leisure facilities, but the core is 261 accommodation units. The project will deliver or maintain 11,500 single en-suite bedspaces for single soldiers.
This is not just a "quick fix". Buildings will not be allowed to degenerate and will be maintained throughout the life of the contract.
A key feature of the contract is the helpdesk physically located at each of the garrisons. The helpdesk provides a telephone, walk in and email point of contact for advice and assistance on all of the services that Aspire are responsible for 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The helpdesks receive an average of 5,600 calls per month of which in excess of 98% are answered within 30 seconds.
- in the first 6 years since the project began over 9,000 bed spaces have been delivered
- 466 new and refurbished buildings constructed and 423 demolitions completed with 97% re-use of material
- over 2 million meals served annually
Project Allenby Connaught news
Allenby/Connaught scoops 3 awards
Poject Allenby/Connaught scooped 3 major awards at the Public Private Finance Awards ceremony held last night in London. The 3 awards presented to Project Allenby/Connaught are: Best Operational Defence Scheme, Best Government/Government Agency Team award and the Grand Prix award for the 'Best Operational UK Project'. The awards which are now in their tenth year are sponsored by Public Private Finance Journal, and recognise innovation and excellence in the public private partnerships industry.
The awards also recognise leading organisations which offer services as well as buildings and applaud those which strive for innovation and efficiencies.
PAC progress to date has been nothing short of excellent and just 2 years into the contract Aspire Defence and the MOD have already achieved outstanding results:
- a full range of much improved services commenced within 90 days of contract signature and are making a real difference to the quality of life for the soldiers we support.
- more than 100 new or refurbished buildings handed over and continue to do so ahead of programme, at an average rate of 1 a week.
- nearly 2,000 soldiers have moved into their new single ensuite rooms.
- we have shown flexibility by handling well over 200 significant changes since contract close with local requirements flexed on an almost daily basis.
- all of this has been handled in a genuine and committed partnering relationship, held up as a model for other projects.
As a consequence, all soldiers returning from demanding operations in Iraq and Afghanistan are now increasingly moving into new accommodation of a standard which they deserve and of which the nation can be proud.
Doug Weidner, MOD project manager, commented: "To win these awards is a fantastic accolade. To win the Best Government Team award recognises the efforts my team have put into this project. They are all totally committed to delivering what we have promised and Allenby/Connaught really is making soldiers lives better and I am delighted to receive this award on their behalf.
"To also win the Grand Prix award and the award for the Best Operational Defence Scheme is a further endorsement of the progress we have made to improve the living and working accommodation for the British army. This is a complex project covering a huge area, which has the opportunity to improve the daily lives of more than 18,700 soldiers. Proof that we are delivering on this commitment can be seen around the garrisons which is recognised by winning these prestigious awards."
Project history
Historical background
The War Office first purchased land on Salisbury Plain in 1897 primarily for army manoeuvres. The main acquisition programme was completed in 1902. Work started on building Tidworth garrison later that year with full occupation of the 8 barrack areas achieved by 1910. The other major Salisbury Plain garrisons followed over the next 30 years or so.
Aldershot Garrison, described as the "Home of the British army", is one of the larger garrisons occupied by the services with about 4,700 troops. It is host to several formation headquarters, including HQ 4 Division, and a number of logistic and mechanised infantry units. It also serves as the army's centre of sporting excellence. The garrison is bordered by the towns of Aldershot and Farnborough, the army Training Estate (ATE), and the Blackwater Valley Road.
The site has traditionally divided into North Camp, north of the Basingstoke Canal, and South Camp. The garrison is around 500 hectares in size and relatively open, with numerous sports pitches and other green areas. The area includes a number of individual barracks and other facilities and family quarters (FQs), which are leased from Annington Homes. The area represents 28% of the land in Rushmoor Borough Council.
The building stock ranged from listed buildings to Poulson "system buildings", and included 3 new barracks completed since 1995, the most recent being New Mons.
Aldershot Garrison is unusual in that it owns a considerable proportion of its utilities and roads. These include an electrical network, tied into the partially operated Aldershot military power station, a district heating system covering South Camp, a water catchment area with treatment facilities and its own sewage network and treatment plant.
MOD policy on private finance initiative
In order to implement a number of changes to the organisation and location of many elements of the army across Salisbury Plain and Aldershot a PFI had to be examined as a potential procurement strategy. Land Command established two projects, 'Allenby' for Salisbury Plain and 'Connaught' for Aldershot, to undertake a scoping study to identify the potential for a public private partnership (PPP) solution.
Scoping study phase
The 'Allenby' and 'Connaught' scoping studies were started in late summer 1999. They concluded in February and April 2000 respectively. Both studies found that there was sufficient potential for PPP to justify undertaking a more detailed feasibility study. TU consultation was undertaken on the outcome of the scoping study and the 'terms of reference' (ToRs) for the 'feasibility studies' and no comments were received.
Project management
During the early stages of the feasibility work Land Command recognised the significant potential synergies between 'Allenby' and 'Connaught' and so in July 2000 it was decided to combine the management of the 2 projects. In addition, discussions with the approving authorities indicated that the 2 projects would not be considered in isolation. Work on the procurement options also highlighted the potential for combining the 2 projects into a single procurement activity. Hence it was decided to combine the reporting of the 2 projects into a single coherent document and merge the 2 teams.
Invitation to negotiate
An 'invitation to negotiate' was issued to three bidders on 31 July 2002: Abraxis; Aspire Defence Limited and Defence Accommodation Services Limited (DASL). However, DASL subsequently withdrew from the competition in October 2002.
On 11 December 2002 both consortia submitted their bids which were then subjected to rigorous evaluation and comparison to the departments own Public Sector Comparator (PSC). As a result of this demanding process Aspire Defence Limited were selected as the 'provisional preferred bidder' for Allenby/Connaught.
Main gate approval
In August 2004 the Investment Approvals Board and MOD ministers considered the Main Gate Business Case submitted for the project and approved, subject to final contract negotiations, Project Allenby/Connaught proceeding with Aspire Defence Limited as 'preferred bidder'.
Contract award
Once Aspire Defence Limited had been appointed as the preferred bidder both parties undertook some detailed planning. This is a highly complex PFI contract and care had to be taken to ensure that the contractual details were absolutely right for a contract lasting 35 years. This was time very well spent as a smooth transition, a key project objective, was achieved and one that had to be delivered. The need for the garrisons to remain operationally effective at all times is absolutely essential. This is particularly relevant at the present time given the army's current operational commitments around the world.
Sustainablility and design
Sustainability has been taken fully into account in the design of the new and refurbished buildings.
The project agreement requires all new buildings to achieve an 'Excellent' rating in the bespoke BREEAM and EcoHomes standards. Refurbished buildings must achieve a 'Very Good' rating.
As a result, all new and refurbished buildings will achieve one of these BREEAM certificates making PAC the largest concentration of such certification in the UK.
This adherence to BREEAM certification is not simply an aspiration. A demonstrator block, constructed to prove the design in 2005, was subjected to the same stringent sustainability requirements demanded by the contract. The building gained a BREEAM Excellent rating.
The sustainable development and energy management measures that are built into the contract are comprehensive and seek to deliver long term improvements in 'quality of life' on the estate.
Sustainability principles are observed in the siting of new buildings in order both to minimise the impact to the surrounding areas and local wildlife. They also encourage the use of alternative means of transport to the car.
More efficient land use in the project allows more troops to be accommodated across the project footprint but still releases 160 hectares for disposal.
A suite of sustainable design measures are being installed including 'combined heat and power plants'. Extensive harvesting systems are used to collect and re-use rainwater. 17,500 cubic metres of water is collected, harvesting enough rainwater to fill 10 Olympic sized swimming pools each year. Or the equivalent of approximately 4,000,000 toilet flushes a year.
Solar thermal panels are used to provide hot water
The approach to environment and sustainability
PAC made sustainability a key requirement in its negotiations prior to contract award. Aspire has embraced this requirement. As a result a large part of the MOD estate, accommodating 20% of the British army, is to be built, maintained and serviced to very high sustainability standards.
Many of the Allenby/Connaught sites are located adjacent to designated ecologically-sensitive areas, areas of outstanding natural beauty or within regions of archaeological significance, such as Stonehenge, a world heritage site. Therefore sustainability was a key criterion during tender evaluation and throughout negotiations and embedded in the heart of the project.
The project has received an independent endorsement of its approach to sustainability, winning 2 awards at the 2007 Building Magazine Sustainability Awards – overall winner of the Sustainable Development of the Year and Best Sustainability Initiative for the public sector. These awards recognised the projects outstanding sustainability achievement and environmental excellence. Further awards include the 2008 Contract Journal Award for Environmental Leadership.
Sustainability is at the heart of what is important to the supplier, Aspire Defence Ltd, and the customer, the MOD, over the duration of this 35 year contract. It is tempting to think that at the end of this period sustainability will not rate such special consideration because PAC and other major estate development projects will have made the issue an accepted part of daily business.
Tidworth, Perham Down and Bulford Garrison
What PAC delivered by October 2011
161 new and refurnbished buildings including:
- 39 new 36-man SLA blocks, 27 8-man houses 3 new SNCO blocks
- 1 new P+RTC
- more than 140 new/refurbished buildings including 2 x junior ranks dining centres, 9 office blocks, 17 technical stores and 5 workshops
- 142 demolitions
- 2,524 single ensuite bed spaces
88 new and refurbished buildings including:
- 1 junior ranks dining centre capable of seating 406 soldiers at one sitting
- 1 triple SNCO mess
- 31 new 36-man SLA blocks, 6 8-man houses, 2 refurbished SNCO blocks, 1 new SNCO accommodation, 1 new Officers block, 2 refurbished officers messes (all Z standard ensuite)
- 1 armoury
- 4 technical stores
- 1,579 single ensuite bed spaces
- 66 demolitions
Perham Down
- all 31new buildings completed
- 18 new 36-man SLA blocks, 4 8-man houses, 1 new 76 SNCO block (all z standard en suite) delivered
- junior ranks dining centre delivered in June 2009. Capable of seating 140 soldiers at one sitting
- all 13 refurbished/altered buildings completed
- 28 demolitions
- 810 single ensuite bed spaces
Major milestones
- contract Award - 31 March 2006
- construction Start - May 2006
- Service commencement - July 2006
- construction phase completed - Dec 2013
- end of contract – 2041
- first major milestone Tidworth – completion of 2 RTR Bks - 21 July 2007
- first key milestone Bulford: Detention Centre - Feb 2008
- first key milestone: Technical Offices - 4 May 2007
Project Allenby/Connaught in Tidworth
- 35-year contract with Aspire Defence Ltd
- home to approximately 5,200
- 119 new buildings, 42 refurbished, 16 altered and 149 demolitions
- create, maintain and refurbish 3407 single ensuite bedrooms
- local held desk available 24/7, 365 days a year
- refurbishment of 8 x officers messes creating 113 ensuite bedrooms
Project Allenby/Connaught in Bulford
- 35-year contract with Aspire Defence Ltd
- home to approximately 3,500 soldiers
- 70 new buildings, 15 refurbished, 27 altered and 90 demolitions in total
- create, maintain and refurbish 1,954 single ensuite bedrooms
- local helpdesk available 24/7, 365 days a year
Project Allenby/Connaught in Perham Down
- 35-year contract with Aspire Defence Ltd
- home to approximately 1,300 soldiers
- 31 new buildings, 6 refurbished, 7 altered and 28 demolitions
- create, maintain and refurbish 810 single ensuite bedrooms
- local held desk available 24/7, 365 days a year
- refurbishment of 2 x officers messes creating 54 ensuite bedrooms
- Tidworth nearly 3,400,000 safe man-hours have been worked without serious incident.
- Tidworth construction has an approximate value of £455 million
- Bulford nearly 100,000 safe man-hours have been worked without a serious incident.
- Bulford construction has an approximate value of £255 million
- Perham Down nearly 37,000 safe man-hours have been worked without serious incident.
- Perham Down construction has an approximate value of £140 million
- help desk exceeding contractually stipulated deadline to answer 98.4% of all calls within 30 seconds.
- the number of calls averages 3,000 per month
Tidworth celebrates the 100th building accepted into service
The newly refurbished Assaye Officers' Mess for 1 Royal Horse Artillery (1 RHA) became the 100th building to be completed in Tidworth by Project Allenby/Connaught, thus making the Edwardian living accommodation fit for the 21st century and bringing the total up to 161 buildings delivered across the whole of the project.
The mess, which includes a lodge and annex, can accommodate up to 51 officers. The refurbished building provides modern dining and living facilities with ensuite accommodation which has been converted from single rooms with communal facilities.
To preserve the architectural heritage of the 1 RHA Officers' Mess, the original facade and entrance to the building have been retained, along with the formal sweeping driveway to the pillared main entrance.
The Commanding Officer of 1 Royal Horse Artillery, Lieutenant Colonel Simon Humphrey said:
The completion of Assaye Mess is a milestone for both 1st Regiment Royal Horse Artillery and Aspire Defence, and appropriate that the 100th building on Tidworth Garrison goes to the 1st Regiment. Its re-occupation will mark the near completion of a completely redeveloped barracks providing much improved infrastructure and facilities. Most importantly the redevelopment of Assaye Barracks has given my soldiers a quality of life they have deserved for many, many years.
Doug Weidner, project manager for the MOD's Project Allenby/Connaught said:
This is another significant milestone for the project and further evidence of the outstanding progress we have made here in Tidworth just 2½ years into the contract. The work here, and indeed at other garrisons in the project's footprint, has transformed the lives of the soldiers who live and work on the garrison. It is also testament to the effectiveness of the working relationship we have with our contractor, Aspire Defence, who has been set some very challenging deadlines for the delivery of new and refurbished buildings and, I am pleased to say, they have proved up to the mark.
Peter Smart, chief executive of Aspire Defence Limited said:
We are delighted to hand over to the CO 1 RHA, this, our 100th building at Tidworth. In refurbishing this mess we have brought it up to modern standards, with single ensuite rooms but have also preserved the very distinct and important character of the building. Perhaps more important than 100 buildings, 30 months into the contract we already have over 2,500 hard working soldiers living in new accommodation across the project – we really are making their lives better and with the delivery of another building every week we look forward to extending that to many more soldiers over the coming months.
Warminster garrison
What PAC delivered by October 2011
To date:
- 23 new/refurbished buildings including:
- 1 new super diner built
- 12 new 36-man SLA blocks
- 4 new 8-man houses
- 2 SNCO SLA block
- 1 community centre
- 674 single ensuite bed spaces
- 23 buildings demolished
Major milestones
- contract award: 31 March 2006
- construction start: January 2008
- Service commencement: July 2006
- first major milestone: junior ranks dining centre: 30 March 2009
- construction phase completed: December 2013
- end of contract: 2041
Project Allenby/Connaught in Warminster
- 35-year contract with Aspire Defence Ltd
- home to approximately 2,100 soldiers with a throughput of 17,000 per annum
- 33 new buildings, 10 refurbished, 0 altered and 41 demolitions
- create, maintain and refurbish 1,415 single ensuite bedrooms
- local helpdesk available 24/7, 365 days a year
- 12 new 36-man SLA blocks (all z standard en suite) delivered 2010-2011
- junior ranks dining centre delivered in April 2009. Capable of seating 233 soldiers at one sitting
- nearly 825,000 safe man-hours have been worked without incident
- Warminster construction has an approximate value of £140 million
- helpdesk exceeding contractually stipulated deadline to answer 95% of all calls within 30 seconds
- the number of calls average 600 per month
Wildlife protection
Homes for bats and a new home found for lizards
Every building to be demolished is fully assessed for bats and nesting birds by licensed surveyors. A number of bat species have been encountered to date, including brown long-eared and common pipistrelle. In order to compensate for the loss of roosting areas, the single living accommodation blocks are fitted with a range of bat mitigation features. These include bat bricks, bat cavity spaces, squeeze boxes and partitioned loft spaces.
This range of design measures is intended to offer the various species of bats a variety of habitats to encourage them to roost within the buildings and so preserve their continued presence in the area. Allenby/Connaught is one of the largest bat mitigation schemes ever undertaken.
Before construction began at the Perham Down site reptiles, slow worms and common lizards were found. Using specialist reptile relocation techniques around 1,000 animals were successfully moved to an approved receptor site in advance of the ground works commencing.
Working together
Sustainability has been at the heart of the project since the outset. A cooperative approach with interested external organisations will continue for the duration of the project. A collaborative project was undertaken during 2007 with Natural England, Defence Estates and Kennet District Council. This was to compensate for the unavoidable loss of calcareous grassland (a highly valuable bio diverse habitat) in the Perham Down area as a result of the PAC build programme.
Salisbury Plain is the largest calcareous grassland area in Europe and the project compensates for the loss of such grassland by providing new areas offsite to ensure this valuable resource is protected.
Last updated 27 June 2018 + show all updates
Added the About Aspire Defence section.
Changed misleading page title as project Allenby/Connaught doesn't related to Services Familiy Accomodation (SFA)
First published.


text:
If you follow me on Twitter, you might have noticed me expressing something of a desire for a PhD in computer science. While the tweet wasn't really all that serious (I love what I'm currently doing), I got a lot of advice on the topic from some people whose opinion and experience I respect. Most suggested that the advanced degree probably wasn't what I really wanted, since my interests tend towards the cutting edge (complexity theory, etc.), and new theories don't get incorporated into academic programs until well after they're accepted in the market.
Instead, learning from practitioners and, even better, learning by doing should prove more valuable in both knowledge and in actually creating something meaningful. That said, I do think there is value in building a stronger base on which to evaluate new theories (and possibly to generate some of my own).
My biggest impediments, though, are time and a predilection for procrastination. Addressing those issues would be the main advantage to a formal academic program – while introducing a whole host of other issues.
So instead, I'm going to create my own evolving curriculum to study the topics I find interesting and useful. The goals are to provide a guidepost for my learning (for both subjects and, more importantly, time), and to garner recommendations on sources (hopefully).
This will be a living post – updating as I find new sources, or new interests. And hopefully whoever reads this can learn something as well.
DLT-999: Independent Study
Last Updated: 7/17/2013
- Distributed Systems
- Primer (collection of useful papers) Part 1. Part 2. (note: for any collections of links, I'll call out and categorize the relevant ones as I tackle them)
- Reading List (collection of useful references)
- Notes on Distributed Systems
- CAP Theorem
- Consensus Algorithms
- Knowledge within Distributed Systems
- Patterns of Learning
- On Intelligence
- Feedback Loops / Adaptive Control Systems
- Control and Dynamic Systems course
- Algorithms
- Complex Event Processing
- Distributed Intelligent Managed Element
- Stephen Wolfram's A New Kind of Science
- Executable Runtime Megamodels
- Decision Making – Gary Klein
- Concurrency Patterns
- Architectual Patterns
- Constructal (Wiki) (Book) (Cheaper Book)

subset: commoncrawl


text: You ain't kidding. There was a video of this show on the web a few years back and I loved it. Bob and Jer were literally side by side in full on rock star poses hammering away at the coda and the crowd was going absolutely apeshit. also of note from that show was Brent's "Dear Mr. Fantasy", if the begining doesn't give ya goose bumps, nothing will. I wish this damned video would resurface, somebody's gotta have it. A must!wisedyes wrote:Third night of Hampton VA ( 3-26 ) in spring of 1987 - MONSTROUS! I was there, the audience was whipped into a frenzy, Garcia and Weir were doing the rock star thing in full force. Never heard another Terrapin like that one in terms of sheer power.


text:
Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner told lawmakers on Wednesday that while the reforms put in place to strengthen the nation's financial system since the financial crisis have indeed helped—such as requiring banks to hold more capital and the fact that credit is expanding—the biggest threat to the U.S.'s financial stability now is the ongoing European crisis.
"The ongoing European crisis presents the biggest risk to our economy," he said. "The economic recession in Europe is hurting economic growth around the world, and the ongoing financial stress is causing a general tightening of financial conditions, exacerbating the global slowdown."
Geithner presented to the House Financial Services Committee on Wednesday the Financial Stability Oversight Council's (FSOC) second annual report on financial market and regulatory developments, potential threats to financial stability, and recommendations to strengthen the financial system.
During his two-and-a-half hours before the committee, Geithner fielded questions from lawmakers on everything from the LIBOR scandal to whether the Glass-Steagall Act should be brought back to the fiscal cliff that looms at year-end.
Rep. Spencer Bachus, R-Ala., chairman of the committee, criticized FSOC, stating that when financial reform was debated by Congress two years ago, "Republicans suggested an alternative that would have consolidated the number of regulators." Instead, he said, the Dodd-Frank Act passed by Congress "eliminated one regulator, kept the others, added three more, and put them on the Financial Stability Oversight Council."
Congress was told, he said, that this "'supercommittee' of regulators was needed to act as an early warning system that would perceive threats far off in the distance and take action before these threats could metastasize into crises that bring down our economy."
But, he argued, "regulators appear to be so preoccupied writing these new rules [under Dodd-Frank] that they're missing the basics—like safeguarding segregated customer funds and protecting investors from Ponzi schemes and other financial frauds" and regulators have also failed "to protect the customers of MF Global and Peregrine Financial Group. Now there are questions about why regulators didn't take concrete action to stop LIBOR manipulation."
But Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., ranking member of the committee, shot back that the problem "for the American economy is not too much regulation," also citing European woes. Said Frank: "What we're being told now is the problem is not enough freedom by those who caused this economic" crisis. "What's too complicated for them to understand was their own razzle-dazzle activity."
Geithner gave lawmakers a list of achievements the nation has made to repair and reform the financial system after the 2008 financial meltdown, which he said has "helped produce a stronger and more resilient system." They included:
- Banks have been forced to substantially increase the amount of capital they hold, so that they are able to provide credit to the economy and absorb losses in the future. Tier 1 common capital levels at our country's banks are up by $420 billion, or 70%, from three years ago. The ratio of tier 1 common equity to risk-weighted assets at these institutions increased from 6% to over 11% during this period.
- The nation has forced a significant reduction in overall leverage in the financial system. Financial sector debt has dropped by more than $3 trillion since the crisis, and household debt is down $900 billion.
- Banks are funding themselves more conservatively, relying less on riskier short-term funding.
- The size of the "shadow banking system"—which had been a key source of financial stress during the crisis—has fallen substantially, by several trillion dollars.
- The government has closed most of the emergency programs put in place during the crisis and recovered most of the investments made into the financial system, which were originally expected to result in a loss to taxpayers of several hundred billion dollars. The TARP bank investments have already produced a profit for the taxpayer of more than $19.5 billion, and on current estimates will generate an overall profit of approximately $22 billion.
- Credit is expanding, and the cost of credit has fallen significantly from the peaks of the crisis. Commercial and industrial lending at commercial banks increased 10% in 2011 and increased at an annual rate of 11% in the first five months of 2012.
However, Geithner told lawmakers that "we have a long way to go to repair the damage in the housing market," and conceded that the economy "is not growing fast enough and unemployment is still too high."
Geithner did say, too, that all FSOC members support Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chairwoman Mary Schapiro's efforts to address certain weaknesses in the money-market fund industry, namely the lack of a mechanism to absorb a sudden loss in value of a portfolio security and the incentive for investors to redeem at the first indication of any perceived threat to the value or liquidity of the fund.
FSOC, he said, recommends that the SEC "publish structural reform options for public comment and ultimately adopt reforms that address money-market funds' susceptibility to runs." FSOC further recommends, he said, "that, where applicable, its members align regulation of cash management vehicles similar to MMFs within their regulatory jurisdiction to limit the susceptibility of these vehicles to run risk."
Dodd-Frank created the FSOC, which includes voting members from the following bodies: the secretary of the Treasury, who chairs FSOC; chairman of the Federal Reserve; the comptroller of the currency; director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB); chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission; chairman of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. (FDIC), chairman of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC); director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA); chairman of the National Credit Union Administration Board, and an independent member with insurance expertise.


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(Burbank, CA) October 20, 2006 ?? The CW Network has picked up the back nine episodes of freshman comedy "The Game" and returning drama "7th Heaven," giving each series a full season order, it was announced today by Dawn Ostroff, President of Entertainment, The CW.
Retaining 95% of its "Girlfriends" lead-in among women 18-34, "The Game" centers on the lives and relationships among NFL wives, girlfriends and mom/managers who use their best "game" to help their men stay on the field and on their arm. The series stars Tia Mowry ("Sister, Sister"), Coby Bell ("Third Watch"), Pooch Hall ("Miracle's Boys"), Hosea Chanchez ("For Your Love"), Brittany Daniel ("White Chicks") and Wendy Raquel Robinson ("The Steve Harvey Show").
"The Game" is a production of Happy Camper Productions and Grammnet Productions in association with CBS Paramount Network Television Inc. Kelsey Grammer ("Frasier," "Girlfriends"), creator Mara Brock Akil ("Girlfriends," "Moesha," "The Jamie Foxx Show") and Steve Stark serve as executive producers.
"7th Heaven," the critically acclaimed family drama about a minister, his wife and their seven children, stars Emmy Award-nominated Stephen Collins (the upcoming film "Blood Diamond," "The First Wives Club," "Sisters"), Catherine Hicks ("Peggy Sue Got Married," "Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home"), Beverley Mitchell ("Saw 2"), Nikolas and Lorenzo Brino as the twins, George Stults ("Will & Grace"), Tyler Hoechlin ("The Road to Perdition") and Haylie Duff (currently starring in the Broadway production of "Hairspray," "Napoleon Dynamite").
"7th Heaven" was created by Brenda Hampton ("Fat Actress," "Mad About You," "Blossom"), who also serves as executive producer along with Chris Olsen and Jeff Olsen. The series is produced by CBS Paramount Network Television, in association with Spelling Television.


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Jackson Demonstration State Forest campgrounds and seasonal roads are now open for the dry period.
Big River Campground and Red Tail, South Bend, Wagon and Teacher"s campgrounds in the Camp One area are closed for construction of new restrooms. These campgrounds will re-open as the construction is completed in each area.
Campers are reminded the fee for camping in the state forest is $15 per night for single vehicles.
The Trestle Trail is also open for the season. Users are reminded that Sudden Oak Death has been detected along the trail and precautions should be taken to minimize the spread of the disease.
Information regarding SOD on JDSF is available at the Cal Fire Fort Bragg office located at 802 N. Main St., 707-964-5674, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to noon and 1 to 5 p.m., and online at http://calfire.ca.gov/resource_mgt/resource_mgt_stateforests_jackson.php


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November 12, 2012 (KHARTOUM) – A Qatari official said on Monday that his country is holding contacts with armed groups from Sudan's western region of Darfur to persuade them to join the government in a peace deal the Arab Gulf country brokered last year.
Qatar's state minister of cabinet affairs, Ahmad Bin Abdulla Al Mahmud, revealed, while addressing the fourth meeting of the monitoring committee of the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur (DDPD) in Doha, that Qatar has been engaged in new contacts with Darfur rebel groups to bring them to join the DDPD which was signed between the government and former rebel group the Justice and Liberation Movement (LJM) in July last year.
Al Mahmud did not specify which groups they are trying to bring on board but the main three groups that boycotted the DDPD are the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), the Sudan Liberation Movement-Manni Minnawi (SLM-MM), and the Sudan Liberation Movement-Abdel Wahid Nur (SLM-AW)
The Qatari official acknowledged that the implementation of the DDPD is facing obstacles and challenges that require time to overcome them. He warned that any delay or substantial failure in implementing the deal will lead to negative consequences for Darfur, Sudan and the entire region.
Al Mahmud added that one of the biggest pitfalls that are attending the process of implementing the DDPD is persuading the hesitant groups to join the peace deal and refrain from attempting to sabotage it. "We are facing a two-fold challenge to keep the signatories committed to the agreement and to deal with the hesitant groups to join the peace process".
The minister pointed out that extensive talks were held in Doha last month between government representatives and JEM in an attempt to widen the scope of peace. He said that the two sides agreed to cease hostilities and return to negotiations.


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The Office of the First Lady considers itself a bridge builder and it is within this context that our programmes have been streamlined to create opportunities for those who would otherwise not have access. Our secondary objective is to change systems for the benefit of targeted populations, especially women, youth and rural populations.
Focus areas
In the quest to build bridges of economic opportunity between the first and second economy, the OFL, through the One Economy Foundation, embarked on the implementation of a Collateral Free Lending programme aimed at empowering entrepreneurs who have potential to scale up their businesses but lack the requisite capital, confidence and capacity to do so. The Fund is aimed at easing the restrictive and difficult means of obtaining a loan to entrepreneurs who operate in the second economy. These loans will be offered to micro and macro entrepreneurs and full implementation is anticipated in the 2017/2018 financial year.
Early Childhood Development (ECD)
The OFL has identified support for integrated early childhood development as a critical area for bringing about systemic change in the education sector. Inequality in access to educational opportunities perpetuates the poverty cycle. In collaboration with the University of Namibia and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF); the OFL commissioned a needs assessment in 32 vulnerable Early Childhood Development (ECD) Centres in eight of Namibia's fourteen regions. The study which builds on the existing knowledge on the status of ECD in Namibia, identified qualitative and structural gaps in the provision of ECD services and recommends areas for intervention by the OFL and other stakeholders.
Talented Individual Programme
To further support our work in creating access to opportunities in the education sector, we developed an educational fellowship programme known as the Talented Individual Programme (TIP). Twenty-five learners were selected from fourteen regions in 2016 to commence Grade 8 at three schools namely the Windhoek High School, the Windhoek Gymnasium Private School and the St. Boniface College (Sambyu-Rundu). The learners underwent a competitive selection process and all met the criteria of being highly talented but displaying the most need. The aim is to provide the learners with equal access to educational opportunities enabling them to break the poverty cycle and aiding their development. The fellowship focuses on holistic development and therefore seeks to develop character of each beneficiary. Beyond the payment of school fees, learners also receive psycho-socio support and access to a multidisciplinary support team which is comprised of a combination of in-house experts as well as external support.
- Gender Based violence (GBV) and violence against children is a major concern in the country. In line with national efforts to fight GBV, our Office has taken the approach of working with various stakeholders and developing smart partnerships to ensure that our programmes focus on both the prevention of and response towards GBV. The OFL works with partners to create awareness about GBV, to promote and strengthen access to multi-disciplinary support within the system as well as to influence the strengthening of a robust legislative framework which supports survivors of GBV.
- Our GBV initiatives have a two pronged approach of working with both survivors as well as perpetrators of GBV. To this extent, male engagement has been a critical factor, most especially through our collaboration with the Namibian Correctional Services. A Memorandum of Understanding was also signed with the NCS in November 2016 to govern the exchange of research and general collaboration in areas of mutual interest.
- Thus far, the pillar has witnessed great milestones with the Office being involved in case management, training of trainers for efficient service delivery, offering material support and engagements.
- Using key speaking platforms to highlight issues related to gender based violence; inequality; cultural harmful practices perpetuating GBV; cyber bullying and child online protection; HIV/AIDS; sexual reproductive health and rights child sexual abuse; working with perpetrators; fatherlessness; substance abuse; intergenerational sex; early marriages and violence in general.
- Collaboration with the private sector through the donation of nutritional, financial and material support to approximately 2500 community members in dire need of school uniform, toiletries and stationery. Recipients included children in hospitals, survivors of GBV in shelters, perpetrators in Namibia Correctional Facilities, single parent households, orphans and vulnerable children in care centres in informal settlements or rural homes across the country.
- Distribution of 90 sewing machines to individuals and groups who struggle to meet their basic needs as well as female offenders in the Windhoek and Walvis Bay Correctional Facilities.
- The focus of our health pillar is to advocate for and promote access to quality maternal and child health care services, particularly in rural and/or economically disadvantaged communities. This pillar also enables us to provide institutional support to the health sector as well as to work with grassroots based organisations in the attainment of their objectives. Our strategic actions take the form of complementing or providing support to existing programmes under embarked on by the ministry of Health and Social Services or our respective development partners in the areas of:
- Improving maternal and child health including education on sexual reproductive health to prevent of teenage and crisis pregnancies;
- Advocacy support for communicable and non-communicable diseases with a specific focus on HIV/AIDS and reproductive cancers;
- Timely access to reproductive healthcare and education services, particularly to the youth; and
- Advocacy on lifestyle issues such as drug and alcohol abuse, which degrade our social capital.
As the UNAIDS Special Advocate for Young Women and Adolescent Girls, the First Lady is tasked with the responsibility of championing the Start Free Stay Free AIDS Free Agenda which seeks to end AIDS as an epidemic among children, adolescents and young women by 2020.
It is within this context that the #BeFree Movement was launched in November 2016 in collaboration with UNFPA and UNAIDS. While HIV remains a focal point, the intention of #BeFree is to create a non-judgemental, inclusive platform which encourages honest and robust dialogue and information sharing on issues which hold young people back from reaching their potential.
Due to its popularity and demand for an open dialogue between parents and the youth, it was proposed that the #BeFree movement be launched in all 14 regions in the country. We also intend to use the #BeFree model to engage youth on international visits.
#BeFree has taught the office that it is important to include youth in discussions which affect them, but most importantly, to trust the solutions they propose.
The OFL recognises that we have limitations in carrying out our work. For this reason, the Office continually strives to work with Line Ministries and other stakeholders who already operate in the areas we seek to bring about change in. This enables us to avoid a duplication of resources and work more optimally towards the attainment of our goals.
Institutions that we have collaborated strongly with include:
- Ministry of Health and Social Services
- Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture
- Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare
- Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibia
- Monica Geingos Junior Secondary School
- FabLAb
- Financial Literacy Initiative
- Namibia Correctional Service
- Namibia Association of Planned Parenthood
1 Engelberg Street, Auasblick
Private Bag 13339, Windhoek
Tel: 264 (61) 270 7111
Fax: 264 (61) 271 770


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This tool is designed to quickly identify who should be referred for cancer genetic counseling to formally evaluate their family history and discuss the benefits and limitations of genetic testing for Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer.
Funded by a Cooperative Agreement to the Georgia Department of Public Health, and administered by the Georgia Center for Oncology Research and Education in partnership with Emory University, Georgia State University and Morehouse School of Medicine. For more information, contact Georgia CORE at 404-523-8735.


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Data Protection in Schools would like to place a cookie on your computer to help us make this website better. To find out more about cookies and how we use them, please see our Privacy Policy.
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Past Events
The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) came into force on the 25th May 2018, replacing the existing data protection framework under the EU Data Protection Directive.
An interactive resource on GDPR for schools is available www.gdpr4schools.ie
Below are documents for schools to help them in preparing for GDPR.
Copyright© 2013 JMB


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Meteorite science meets an artist's dream of spaceflight
Inspired by the dream of space exploration, artist Katie Paterson imagined sending a piece of her meteorite artwork back to space in a celebration of science, art and human technology. Her vision may just become reality, with a little help from ESA's can-do cargo vessel.
Paterson's installation, Campo del Cielo, Field of the Sky, is on display at the UK's prestigious Turner Contemporary gallery this summer, and features a 4.5 billion-year-old meteorite that has been cast, melted and recast as a model of itself, retaining its original form.
Katie describes Campo del Cielo, Field of the Sky as presenting curious visitors with a newly formed yet still ancient meteorite, imbued with cosmic history.
"The iron, metal and dust inside have been reformed, and the layers of its cosmic lifespan – the intermixing of space and time, the billions of years of pressure and change – have become collapsed, transformed and then, by the hand of human technology, renewed," she says.
Campo del Cielo, Field of the Sky (Katie Paterson) from Katie Paterson on Vimeo.
Back to where it came from
While developing the concept for the installation, Katie was struck by an idea: would it be possible to 'close the story' of her Campo del Cielo meteorite by returning it back to space?
"By sending it 'back to space', I hope to fire the imaginations of students, youth – anyone, really – and foster a discussion on our relation with the wider universe," she explains.
Seminal fragments of our cosmic origins
For ESA, meteors, meteorites and asteroids are crucial to the scientific understanding of our Solar System, and they are central to numerous Agency activities such as the Rosetta comet mission, future robotic missions to asteroids, near-Earth object studies, Space Situational Awareness and even potential human missions beyond the Earth, Moon and Mars.
"Scientists recognise comets, meteorites and asteroids as the debris left over from the formation of our Solar System," says Dr Detlef Koschny, responsible for near-Earth object activities at ESA's Space Situational Awareness office.
"As such, studying them up close, if they fall to Earth, or deep in space, via telescopes or with spacecraft – like ESA's Rosetta – is vital to understanding how planets and our Solar System emerged.
So, really, objects like this bit of meteorite symbolise a lot of what we are trying to achieve."
Science to meet art high in orbit
Earlier this year, Katie contacted ESA to enquire if it would be possible to send a symbolic piece of her meteorite to the International Space Station as a way to support public outreach and awareness of the intersection between science and art.
ESA agreed, and has provisionally allocated space on the next Automated Transfer Vehicle, Georges Lemaître, due to voyage to the orbital outpost in 2014. A small sample of the meteorite will be carefully assessed for flight qualification, and if it passes, can be delivered 'back to space' to the Station.
"I hope this helps inspire people everywhere to think about the really big questions: the origin of life, the natural history of our Solar System and home planet, and our relationship with time, both geological and cosmic," says Detlef.
"These are important questions, and space exploration together with art are helping us answer them."
Editor's note: News and updates on this unique collaboration will be published later in the ATV blog.
More Information
Campo del Cielo, Field of the Sky
Curiosity: Art and the Pleasures of Knowing
25 May – 15 September 2013
Turner Contemporary
Margate, Kent, UK
30 July 2013 - 15:00 - Exhibiting artist Katie Paterson talks about her work Campo del Cielo, Field of the Sky – a meteorite she has melted down and reformed for a trip back into orbit


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