YEOVILTON LIFE: Onwards and upwards for Wildcat

THE final contract that will deliver new facilities for Wildcat helicopters at Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton has been marked with a turf-cutting ceremony at the site of the development.

RNAS Yeovilton will soon be home to the new Wildcat helicopters of the Royal Navy and British Army with Army regiments moving from Gütersloh in Germany and Dishforth in Yorkshire to South Somerset.

It will be mean hundreds of extra service personnel at the base with many coming with families.

The Defence Infrastructure Organisation’s (DIO) signed the first contract with industry partner Carillion in February 2014 to provide the new training and office facilities that will ensure that servicemen and women at the air base are able to train for operations using both the existing fleet of Lynx helicopters and the Wildcats.

The final contract will deliver new and improved messing, accommodation, sports and medical facilities at Yeovilton.  Works start this month and the project will be completed in November 2016 to meet the deadlines of the Wildcat transition programme.

PHOTO – ABOVE AND RIGHT: Turf-cutting ceremony before Carillion took over the site at RNAS Yeovilton with (from left) project director Carillion, Trevor Pratt; RNAS Yeovilton Commanding Officer, Commodore Jock Alexander; and DIO deputy head manager for projects west, Matt Harris.

DIO team leader Steve Jeffries said: “Our priority is to support our Armed Forces by delivering the facilities they need to live, work, train and deploy on operations – the right buildings in the right places.

“Acquisition of the new Wildcat helicopters means that the Yeovilton base will become the Royal Navy and British Army’s centre for both front line squadrons and training units, including the Wildcat helicopters of the Commando Helicopter Force.

“Today is an exciting day as it marks the start of the final part of the development.”

Commodore Jock Alexander, Commanding Officer at RNAS Yeovilton, added: “It is great news that DIO is providing these much-needed new facilities here at Yeovilton.

“They will enhance our capabilities and ensure the Wildcat force is ready when needed.

“We look forward to working with the construction team at Carillion to deliver the final piece of this project.”

PHOTO – RIGHT: Commodore Jock Alexander, Commanding Officer of RNAS Yeovilton, has said that the developments will enhance the base’s facilities.

Richard Lumby, managing director Carillion Defence, said: “We are delighted to have secured these contracts which will see Carillion deliver vital facilities for both the Royal Navy and Army and the men and women who will be based at RNAS Yeovilton.

“This project will not only see Carillion transform the base but also create local jobs, including apprenticeships, and work with local suppliers as part of our commitment to bring lasting benefits to our customers and the communities in which we work.”

RNAS Yeovilton is already home to around 4,000 personnel, service and civilian, including Ministry of Defence employees and permanent contractors.

Tags:
News.