The official opening of the Scott Brownrigg designed Larkhill Medical and Dental Centre, which was delivered under the Army Basing Programme, took place on Wednesday 30 November 2022. Designed on behalf of Aspire Defence and the DIO, the £13m Larkhill Medical and Dental Centre is the first facility to offer a shared MOD and NHS Primary Healthcare provision in Wiltshire, housing both health and dental facilities under one roof.

The building is contemporary, light and open with access to a central external courtyard to help promote wellbeing for those using the facility, designed to achieve DREAM Excellent. All medical areas are located on the ground floor, with easy access to a double height reception and shared waiting area, with Army dental facilities and an associated waiting area, reception and admin spaces located on the first floor.

The centre was built within the  Stonehenge footprint, a UNESCO World Heritage site, which resulted in a number of considerations being developed in consultation with the Planning Authority and English Heritage. The external appearance was of prime importance; a low-lying building with predominant horizontal lines was designed with an inclined canopy incorporated to visually reduce the height and mass of the  building. The building is both contemporary and welcoming, designed as both a focal point but also contextual within the community setting. 

Minister for Defence Personnel, Veterans and Service Families Dr Andrew Murrison said: “It is truly state-of-the-art. Delivered under the successful Army Basing Programme, it rightly provides the very best primary care facilities and is a model for Defence-NHS cooperation.”

The Army Basing Programme has delivered the Government’s 2010 Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR) commitment to bring all UK military units back from Germany by 2020, and to move and re-role military units to implement the Army 2020 Plan, generating savings building to £240M per year.

Fiona Slevin-Brown, Director of Place – Wiltshire, Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire Integrated Care Board said: “Since its completion in 2020, this bespoke facility has been used during the COVID-19 pandemic as a mass vaccination centre by both DPHC and the NHS. Now, we look forward to providing comprehensive health care to those in the Armed Forces, their families and the wider local community.”