UK invests in Wiltshire training camp

The UK Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) is investing £2.4 million in upgrades at the New Zealand Farm camp on Salisbury Plain training area in Wiltshire, the UK government announced on 3 March.

The investment, which will bring the camp in line with modern day and future training requirements, will involve the demolishment of 12 buildings, in place of which 11 multi-functional structures or ‘stone tents’ will be built.

The new facilities will offer a modernised multi-purpose training camp that can function as a forward operating base or as a non-governmental organisation base, refugee camp and terrorist camp, or as part of a complex manoeuvre environment. It will also be available to be used as an exercise base for troops training nearby.

The project will include enhancements to the surrounding infrastructure with tracks and hardstandings that will support the new Ajax armoured vehicle fleet, Warrior armoured fighting vehicles and Challenger 2 main battle tanks.

A new public address system and street lighting will also be installed with provision for military personnel to plug in to a field electrical power supply generator remotely. The project, which is scheduled to be completed in July 2016, will be carried out in partnership with Landmarc Support Services.

Warrant officer Jeff Elson, training safety marshall, Salisbury Plain, DOI, said: ‘DIO’s priority is to support our armed forces by delivering the facilities they need to live, work, train and deploy on operations. The diverse training features that will be incorporated into the site will benefit our training troops as they will enable a variety of exercise scenarios to be undertaken.’

Clive Paxman, project manager, Landmarc Support Services, said: ‘Landmarc worked closely with end users and other stakeholders during the design programme to understand the specific requirements of this facility, which was first used for training during World War 2. This collaboration will ensure that we are jointly able to create facilities that will meet the diverse training needs of our armed forces, in the most sustainable and cost-effective way.’