The Ministry of Defence’s property arm Defence Estates has picked Morgan Sindall to build a new £16m home for the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery in Woolwich.

The equestrian unit will relocate from its current base in St John’s Wood to the historic home of the Royal Artillery at Napier Lines.

Defence Estates has chosen contractor Morgan Sindall to build the scheme (pictured) alongside architect  Scott Brownrigg, Buro Happold, RPS Group (Landscape) and Reitanlagen-Stiller equine consultants.

The development will provide stabling and full supporting facilities for 170 horses, as well as the troop’s historic gun carriages.

It will run on fuel pellets created from horse manure and bedding which will produce bio-fuel to supply the needs of the development.

The project includes an indoor training school and viewing gallery, regimental offices, museum, gun park, forge, a manége and canter track and a forming-up area for the mounted troop and gun carriages.

Work begins in September and will complete in November 2011.

A 123 home scheme is planned forthe 5 acre St John’s Wood site on Ordnance Hill.

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