The Largest Infrastructure Private Finance Initiative in Europe. 

Colchester Garrison, home for the 16 Air Assault Brigade, provides living and working accommodation to approximately 3,500 military and 220 civilian personnel.  Part of the accommodation dated back to the Crimean War, and the refurbishment of the site, was a significant element in Land Command's drive to improve Garrison infrastructure appropriate for a modern army.

The project includes providing en-suite single living accommodation, training facilities, indoor and outdoor recreation facilities, a regional courts martial centre, education and welfare facilities.  The redevelopment will also enable land to be released, which will be used to create a new urban village with community sports facilities, and significant improvements to Colchester's local transport and infrastructure.

Partnerships UK was appointed to advise the Ministry of Defence project team and played a crucial role in brokering a solution between the preferred bidder, RMPA Services Plc, and AMBAC, the financial bond underwriter.  This enabled the PFI contract to be signed along with a successful bond launch.

The contract for the Garrison is worth approximately £2bn over its 35 year life.  A preferred bidder was appointed in 1999, but the project had to overcome many difficulties before financial close was reached in February 2004. 

Armed Forces Minister, Adam Ingram commented
“The contract for the new Garrison is the first of its type and represents an innovative and groundbreaking approach to the development and operation of infrastructure within the Army.  It will set standards for the rest of the army to follow.”