MILITARY accommodation for almost 500 soldiers in Warminster could soon get underway as part of a multi-billion pound regeneration scheme.
A planning application by Aspire Defence for two houses and 12 blocks of flats at Battlesbury Barracks in Woodcock Road needs approval before work can begin at the end of this year.
The development is part of Project Allenby/Connaught, an £8bn Private Finance Initiative led by the Ministry of Defence over 35 years to improve facilities at military bases across the south west.
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Roddy Mellotte, a spokesman for the Warminster garrison, said: "It is the start of a new building programme for Battlesbury Barracks.
"The existing accommodation blocks are being replaced by a 36-man block, each with single rooms and ensuite facilities.
"They will be modern and state-of-the-art facilities with internet connection.
"It will make a great difference. The soldiers deserve it."
The 12 blocks made up of 36 flats and the two houses with space for eight people each, will provide accommodation for 448 soldiers.
Environmental measures have been considered when drawing up the plans.
Steve Arthur, the pre-construction director at Aspire Defence, said: "There will be solar panels on the roofs to heat the water. We already have outline planning consent; this is a reserved matters application."
Reserved matters relate to the access, appearance, landscaping, layout and scale of large projects.
Building work on a new super diner' with club and pub has already started, with plans for a community centre in Imber Road still awaiting full planning permission.
The single-storey centre will replace an existing play centre and crèche.
Mr Arthur said: "We started work on the dining facilities at the beginning of the autumn.
It is due to finish in spring of next year.
"The super diner will cater for 500 people in two sittings and will have a café and a pizzeria. It gives soldiers another facility to use in the evenings."
The ambition of the PFI scheme, according to Mr Arthur, is to improve accommodation and replace the dilapidated facilities; to improve operational efficiency with new dining facilities and to carry out a strategic defence review to relocate regiments worldwide.
Construction work at the military facilities in Warminster, which will include 30 new buildings and the refurbishment of 10, is scheduled for completion in January 2016.
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