Lovell Partnerships Ltd signed a £51 million contract with the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO), which manages and maintains land and property for the Ministry of Defence (MOD), to build 346 homes in Stafford for soldiers and their families returning from Germany.
In a competition for the Beacon Barracks soldier housing deal, Lovell beat Seddon Construction, Lend Lease, Mansell and Thamas Vale.
David Gough, regional director for Lovell, said: “This is a landmark project win for Lovell, and we are looking forward to working on such a prestigious scheme with the DIO. The tendering process was extremely rigorous but I believe it allowed us to demonstrate the uncompromisingly high standards we always demand of ourselves. We are looking forward to getting started in the spring on providing these outstanding new homes for our Armed Forces personnel and their families.”
The investment is in addition to the £1.8 billion announced in March 2013 by the Defence Secretary, Philip Hammond, for the Army Rebasing Plan, which involves the return of 15,000 army personnel to the UK from Germany by 2020. A part of the investment - £20 million - will be spent in the West Midlands.
Stafford will be the new home of two signals regiments returning from Germany, merging three signals regiments together on one site.
Defence Minister, Andrew Murrison, said bringing troops back from Germany is going to save the MOD more than £350m per year.
Under the plan, Stafford will become one of seven major Army areas along with Salisbury Plain, Edinburgh and Leuchars in Scotland, Catterick in North Yorkshire, Aldershot, Colchester and the East Midlands.
DIO Project Manager, Stuart Gallacher, commented: “DIO’s priority is to support the Armed Forces as they prepare for operations and providing good quality living accommodation is one of the ways we can do this. We are pleased to announce the award of this contract to Lovell Partnerships Ltd and look forward to working together on this exciting project.”
The new soldier homes are expected to be completed by summer 2015 when troops from 16 Signal Regiment and 1 Armoured Division Signal Regiment will move to Beacon Barracks, which will allow the German base Rhine Garrison to be closed by spring 2015.