DIO provides a new training facility for army engineers
The Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) has marked the completion of a new training facility for army engineers at MOD Lyneham.
The main training building at MOD Lyneham. Photo: Hercules. All rights reserved
Over the past 2 and half years DIO, working with its contractor Hercules a 50:50 joint venture between Kier Group and Balfour Beatty, has transformed the former RAF base at Lyneham into a new training facility for the army’s Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME), which is due to complete its move to the site from Arborfield and Bordon in early 2016.
The £121 million construction project, part of a £230 million investment in redeveloping the site, includes new and refurbished single living accommodation for trainees, purpose built enhanced training facilities including classrooms, training suites, a large outdoor training area, a medical and dental centre, a gymnasium, outdoor sports facilities, refurbished offices, a refurbished Sergeants and Officers’ Mess with a new extension and REME’s new regimental museum, developed utilising the Old Officers’ Mess. In total the project involved approximately 60,000m² of new build and 65,000m² of refurbished buildings.
New single living accommodation block. Crown Copyright. Photo: Kirsty Williams
The new facility also re-uses part of the old RAF station, which is more sustainable than constructing new buildings. The airfield area, with its runway, which will be used for outdoor training, is a good example of this.
DIO Lead Project Manager, Graeme Wildridge, said:
This is a significant milestone in the delivery of the new REME facility at Lyneham. This project is a fantastic example of how we are supporting our armed forces by providing the right facilities in the right place to meet their needs. The close working relationships and team effort between all those involved within this project has resulted in the successful handover of facilities.
Inside the bedroom of a New single living accommodation block. Crown Copyright. Photo: Kirsty Williams
DIO’s Director of Projects and Programme Delivery, Air Vice-Marshal Elaine West, visited the new facility and said:
MOD Lyneham will be a fantastic place to train our Military personnel. The new facilities will enable the REME to come together in one location. We’re all proud of the contribution we’re making to the Armed Forces – DIO’s purpose is to support the armed forces by providing what they need to live, work and train and this project ticks all three boxes in one development.
Roger Frost, Hercules, hands over the new facility to Air Vice-Marshal Elaine West, DIO. Crown Copyright. Photo: Kirsty Williams. All rights reserved.
Roger Frost, Project Director for Hercules, said:
We are delighted to have worked on such a high profile major project for DIO.
The scale of the 93 week construction project, which spans a 1,200 acre site and has employed over 1,400 individuals at construction peak and 40 local companies during its lifetime, should not be underestimated; it reflects Balfour Beatty and Kier’s reputation for safely delivering high quality, sustainable solutions.
We’re very proud of what we’ve delivered here and our support for ex service personnel to secure employment along the way. We wish MOD Lyneham’s new residents all the best in their new home.
Hercules worked with the forces Career Transition Partnership, which assists military personnel to secure permanent work on completion of their service, and Enterprise Works, a Swindon based organisation which supports individuals with a disability, specifically injured ex service personnel, to secure employment.