Grainger appointed for Aldershot Garrison redevelopment

Defence Estates (DE) have appointed Grainger plc as the developer to create a major new development of approximately 4,500 homes and community facilities on surplus military land in Aldershot.

DE and the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) have worked together to appoint Grainger to redevelop the 148ha Aldershot Urban Extension (AUE) site.

Grainger will regenerate the land at Aldershot Garrison to create a mixed-use residential scheme of around 4,500 homes together with community facilities, schools, local centres and leisure facilities. Work will include the restoration and conversion of the historic Cambridge Military Hospital building and will now work towards achieving planning.

Wendy Ivess-Mash, DE's Deputy Head of Land Management Services, said: "Defence Estates' top priority is to support our Armed Forces, by ensuring that we have an affordable and sustainable military estate that gives our Services personnel the best possible facilities in which to live, work and train.

"Where land is no longer needed for military purposes, it is our responsibility to dispose of that real estate effectively, so that proceeds can be re-invested in Defence priorities and local communities benefit from regeneration opportunities.  We have worked closely with the Homes and Communities Agency in the appointment of Grainger as the Development Partner to ensure that these two aspects are in balance.
"Creating new homes and community facilities on surplus MOD land at Aldershot Garrison will provide a welcome boost in housing for local people, whilst making good use of brownfield land."

Colin Molton, Executive Director at the HCA, said: "Defence Estates and the HCA have secured the best deal for the community and the taxpayer. We are setting high standards for Grainger, which will deliver well designed, sustainable new and affordable homes for residents in Aldershot. I look forward to taking the next steps with our partners to transform the land at Aldershot Garrison into a new and thriving development."

Commenting on Grainger's successful Aldershot bid, Andrew Cunningham, chief executive of Grainger, said: "Aldershot is an extremely exciting opportunity and we are delighted to have been selected.
"We look forward to working with the HCA and Defence Estates to help create a thriving community to the benefit of Aldershot and delivering the best value for the Ministry of Defence. The development will make a large and lasting contribution to the area, creating a successful and sustainable place to live. Being selected to undertake this large scale project reinforces our position as the UK's largest specialist residential property owner and manager and endorses our track record of delivering long term community-focused projects.

"Working in partnership with high quality and well-established organisations and public bodies has always been part of Grainger's strategy, as has enhancing our development pipeline of large scale, complex residential schemes. Aldershot not only provides us with a fantastic opportunity to employ those skills but also provides further evidence of delivering on both of those ambitions."

DE manages all of the Ministry of Defence's land and is selling part of the estate after a planned restructure and consolidation to meet military operating needs.

The AUE is one of the largest brownfield sites in the South East of England. As Aldershot is the home of the British Army, much of the operational military estate will be retained.

Councillor Peter Moyle, Leader of Rushmoor Borough Council, said: "We are extremely pleased that a developer has been announced for the Aldershot Urban Extension.  This is a very positive step forward in what will bring a tremendous boost to the local economy and provide much-needed new homes in the borough.

"These are very exciting times for Aldershot and for Rushmoor.  We are very proud of the borough's military heritage and the Aldershot Urban Extension will build upon this. We want Aldershot to be known for its high quality, sustainable development and to be a place where people want to live and work.  We look forward to working with Grainger, Defence Estates and the Homes and Communities Agency and are fully committed to making sure the development moves forward as swiftly as possible."

The new development will take into account the heritage features and listed buildings, such as the Cambridge Military Hospital, and ensure that the development is delivered to meet the expectations set out in the Supplementary Planning Document (SPD).

Rushmoor Borough Council adopted the AUE SPD in March 2009 which sets out the guidelines for the development to ensure quality homes in a sustainable and energy efficient environment, where people want to live and work. The principles of the SPD built on the finding of the Enquiry by Design which took place in 2005.

Alex McKinlay, director at Drivers Jonas Deloitte who advised HCA and Defence Estates, commented: "We were extremely fortunate to have three exceptional bidders participating in a very demanding selection process.  This excellent result is great news for the future of Aldershot and testament to the great care that has been taken to ensure MoD's legacy sets the highest of standards."

The AUE represents the major housing allocation for the Rushmoor Core Strategy.

The appointment of Grainger follows a competitive tendering process.

Issued by the Homes and Communities Agency.