DIO delivers for Army medics’ new home

The Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) has started work to make an Aldershot barracks ready to receive three Army medical units.

The work, which is in partnership with the Army, is part of a £50m project to transform Keogh Barracks into the new home of 4 Armoured Medical Regiment (4AMR), 22 Field Hospital and Ministry of Defence Hospital Unit (Frimley Park).

The £7.5m first phase of the three-year redevelopment involves converting the Sandhurst single living accommodation block to single-occupancy rooms. It will also create a large laundrette and common rooms located on the ground floor, and the officers’ mess will be upgraded.

Further refurbishment and new buildings will provide fit-for-purpose accommodation for the three units, allowing them to train and work in a co-ordinated way. The medics are due to move into their new home over the summer.

DIO project manager Scott Ross said:

“There is quite a lot to do to make these buildings fit for their new purpose, but I’m pleased to say that by working together with our Army customers we will have Keogh Barracks ready for these three medical regiments when they need to move in.

“This project is an excellent example of DIO’s work to enhance the service we provide to Defence and build a better estate for our Armed Forces.”

Major Eddie Rae, second-in-command 4AMR, said:

“This is a fantastic opportunity for the Army Medical Services and their soldiers’ future. Co-locating these three units, with their differing and complex needs and specialisms, will provide greater synergy in their operations. This will build on Military Medical Capability in preparation to provide and support Army 2020.

“Working with DIO gave us the opportunity to help shape these facilities to provide exactly what the soldiers and the Army need, in a timely and efficient manner.”

The redevelopment of Keogh Barracks is part of the Army Basing Programme, which will provide the facilities the Army needs to live, work and train in the UK as it returns from Germany, rebases across the UK and restructures under Army 2020.

More than 30 Army units have already moved and or changed roles within the UK as part of the programme, freeing up infrastructure and sites and allowing units to better align to their Army 2020 structures. In turn this creates the conditions to enable later moves from Germany and within the UK that will take place over the next five years.

In total £1.8 billion will be invested in infrastructure across the UK under the programme, boosting the economy, creating jobs and providing around 1,700 new homes for service families, thousands of new bed spaces for single soldiers and working, technical and training infrastructure.

ENDS

Further information:

Press enquiries to Steve Roberts-Mee, Communications Officer 0121 311 2400 or email steven.roberts-mee100@mod.uk

DIO website: www.gov.uk/dio

Twitter: @mod_dio

Read DIO’s blog: https://insidedio.blog.gov.uk/

Note for Editors

1) The Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) plays a vital role in supporting our Armed Forces by building, maintaining and servicing what the men and women who serve our country need to live, work, train and deploy on operations.

2) DIO is part of the Ministry of Defence (MOD). It is responsible for managing and maintaining land and properties, as well as providing related support services, to meet the current and future needs of the MOD and personnel at home and abroad, and to support current operations.

3) With Picture - Artist’s impression of the new accommodation. [Crown Copyright/MOD2015]

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