DIO hands over major Midlands development to military medics
Military medical staff have moved into their new home after the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) delivered a £138 million project that creates state-of-the-art training facilities in the heart ofEngland.
Working with industry partners Carillion and Lend Lease, delivering as Debut Services,DIO delivered modern facilities and living accommodation for Defence Medical Services (DMS) at the former Whittington Barracks, near Lichfield - on time and on budget.
The Midlands Medical Accommodation Project saw DIO and its industry partners work closely with Surgeon General’s office and Joint Medical Command to transform the site into DMS (Whittington) - confirming the West Midlands as the centre of excellence for military medicine.
The new complex provides a range of training facilities including a learning centre, library and lecture theatre, 736 new bed spaces provided within the living accommodation for permanent staff and trainees, and a junior ranks dining and welfare facility.
More than 1,100 service personnel are based at the new site, delivering high quality medical support to the Armed Forces. The facility establishes the West Midlands as the central focus for DMS.
It brings together a full range of DMS services and training with care for service operational casualties in nearby Birmingham at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, and University Hospitals Birmingham Foundation Trust.
Air Vice-Marshal Elaine West, Director Programme and Project Delivery at DIO, said:
“DIO’s priority is to support our Armed Forces by providing the facilities and services they need to live, work and train. I am delighted that DIO has delivered top-quality facilities at Whittington which will serve the needs of Defence Medical Services for many years to come.
“The project is an excellent example of how DIO works in partnership with industry as it seeks to get full value from our investment, whilst supporting military capability to best effect.”
In designing and building the complex, key consideration was given to the heritage of the Victorian buildings on site, as well as the semi-rural settings which include the flora and fauna within the MOD establishment. Disruption to surrounding areas was kept to a minimum, as new roads were constructed around the outskirts of the site.
Defence Medical Services (Whittington), was formally dedicated by HRH The Duchess of Cornwall in a ceremony attended by personnel, families and representatives from the local community.
Surgeon General, Air Marshal Paul Evans, said:
“The Defence College is central to the future of the Defence Medical Services. Completion of this building project has transformed this site into a world-class centre of excellence for Defence medical training with state-of-the-art facilities.”
The decision to create a unified headquarters for DMS in the Midlands was made in July 2006, with building work commencing early in 2008.
The project’s final phase involved relocating Defence College of Healthcare Education and Training (DCHET) from Keogh Barracks, in Aldershot, in March.
Carillion worked alongside Debut, who provided accommodation for 859 personnel under Project SLAM (Single Living Accommodation Modernisation).
Richard Lumby, Carillion’s Managing Director responsible for Defence works said:
“Carillion is delighted to have been part of this project and is extremely proud of the new, state-of-the-art facilities which are testament to the collaborative working between all the parties involved. We hope they meet the needs of the Defence Medical Services for many years to come
Graham Jeffery, Defence Directorfor Lend Lease and Debut added:
“Lend Lease are pleased to have been a key member of the team that successfully delivered this cross-prime development on behalf of the Defence Infrastructure Organisation, calling upon our vast amount of experience gained over the past 10 years working on Project SLAM. The successful collaboration between all of the parties involved has ensured that these new facilities will benefit so many of our British servicemen and women for many years to come.”
Ends
Further information:
Press enquiries to Tony Moran, Senior Communications Officer 0121 311 3879 or email tony.moran572@mod.uk
DIO website: www.gov.uk/dio
Twitter: @mod_dio
Read DIO’s blog: https://insidedio.blog.gov.uk/
Notes to 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) The DMS is staffed by around 9,400 regular uniformed and reserve medical personnel. It provides primary healthcare, dental care, hospital care, rehabilitation, occupational medicine, community mental healthcare and specialist medical care to over 170,000 servicemen and women.
4) Picture caption – please credit ‘Crown Copyright/MOD2014’:
Aerial view of DMS Whittington development
5) Carillion is a leading integrated support services company with a substantial portfolio of Public Private Partnership projects and extensive construction capabilities. The Group had annual revenue in 2013 of some £4.1 billion, employs around 40,000 people and operates across the UK, in the Middle East and Canada.
6) Carillion is a member of the FTSE4Good Index and in 2013 the Group was awarded Platinum Big Tick status in Business in the Community’s Corporate Responsibility Index. It has also achieved a position on the 2013 FTSE 350 Climate Performance Leadership Index and the Climate Disclosure Leadership Index, placing it within the top ten UK companies with regard to actions to mitigate climate change.
a. The Group has four business segments: Support services – this includes facilities management, facilities services, energy services, utility services, road maintenance, rail services and consultancy businesses in the UK, Canada and the Middle East.
b. Public Private Partnership (PPP) projects - this includes investing activities in PPP projects for Government buildings and infrastructure, mainly in the Defence, Health, Education, Transport and Secure accommodation sectors.
c. Middle East construction services - this includes building and civil engineering activities in the Middle East.
d. Construction services (excluding the Middle East) - this includes building, civil engineering and developments activities in the UK and construction activities in Canada.
7) Debut Services Limited was formed in response to the MoD's Prime Contracting Initiative to implement the Egan and Latham principles and drive efficiency and best value across the Defence estate. Debut Services benefits from the proven global strength of Lend Lease, one of the world's largest real estate solutions providers, and Babcock International’s recognised proven track record as one of the UK’s largest providers of property management services.
8) In addition to the Functional Prime Contract to build, refurbish and maintain Single Living Accommodation for HM Armed Forces (Project SLAM) Debut is also successfully managing the Regional Prime Contract for the South West.
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