WE recently welcomed the head of the Army Families Federation (AFF), which represents the interests of Army families, to Salisbury Plain Training Area (SPTA), to demonstrate the high standard of new defence accommodation being delivered in the community and behind the wire for the Army Basing Programme (ABP).

Sara Baade, AFF Chief Executive, and Collette Musgrave, AFF Overseas Director, were given a tour of local ABP build sites on 13 March.

The visit, which involved the ABP, Lovell, Aspire and Wiltshire Council, started with a briefing at Lovell site office in Ludgershall. The contractor is delivering 917 Service Families Accommodation across SPTA. This was followed by a tour of the Ashdown Estate in Tidworth, where Mrs Baade met an occupant of one of the 322 brand new Army homes.

Education provision is understandably of key interest for Army families moving to this area. The visitors toured Kiwi School in Bulford and the construction site of St Michael’s School in Larkhill. Pupil numbers at both schools will increase under the ABP, with 150 extra primary places at Bulford and 420 at Larkhill, alongside 60 Early Years’ places.

AFF engages not just with soldiers’ immediate dependants but with wider family members too, and parents often appreciate reassurance that their son or daughter will be well looked after during their Service career. Viewing the single living and working accommodation under construction at Larkhill Garrison was a helpful demonstration of how Aspire Defence is enhancing quality of life for soldiers on camp.

This visit was an excellent opportunity to inform AFF of the plans underway to cater for the 4,000 personnel and 1,300 Army families moving to Wiltshire in 2019. We’ll continue to keep them updated as the ABP progresses.

By Allan Thomson, chief executive, Aspire Defence Limited