Skanska UK has reached Financial Close on the circa £80 million contract to design and build a new barracks complex in Woodbridge, Suffolk for the Ministry of Defence (MOD).
The contract was procured under Defence Estates’ Prime Contracting Initiative where Skanska has single point responsibility as the Prime Supplier for assembling and managing the entire Supply Chain which includes the design team. Skanska will also form part of the Integrated Project Team which includes the Defence Estates Project Manager and Customers Representatives in the delivery of this project.
Skanska UK has integrated its in-house expertise and resources to provide a full design, construction, building services and three- year maintenance service to its Client.
The Project will provide a new barracks, with facilities to accommodate, train and maintain 23 Engineer Regiment, a newly formed regiment that will support 16 Air Assault Brigade, part of a fast reaction task force supporting Britain’s defence commitments. In addition, other facilities will include officers’ mess, firing ranges and assault courses as well as sports, training, dining and medical facilities.
Lt Col (Retd) John Thorn OBE, the Army Infrastructure Organisation Requirements Manager said, “It became obvious during the selection process that Skanska had really understood our vision and needs for Woodbridge and the ethos of working collaboratively. We have formed a good working relationship on this scheme that will deliver an important facility for the armed services in the years ahead.”
Simon Hipperson, EVP, Skanska UK commented, “Woodbridge is much more than a construction project for the MOD, it is about delivering a flexible solution needed to underpin operations for the future. This is a challenging project that has required a truly integrated approach.”
Work on site will start immediately, with completion scheduled for May 2006. This contract comes as Skanska nears completion on the £340 million PFI redevelopment of the MOD’s main Headquarters on Whitehall.