Hi. I’m Steve Jeffries and as well as being the Project Manager for the new Defence Technical Training College at MOD Lyneham, about which I've already blogged, I’m also the Team Leader for Project WINFRA.
An Army Wildcat helicopter coming in to land. [Crown Copyright]Once the project is completed it will provide the necessary infrastructure to locate the Army’s Wildcats in the same base as the Royal Navy’s. It will also deliver efficiencies as a Main Operating Base.
Originally a single project, WINFRA was broken down into a series of smaller discreet contracts to meet Defence timelines.
I joined the WINFRA team in November last year and my main role has been to guide the contracts through the appropriate process. Work is already underway to deliver the new infrastructure and the first facilities are due to be completed in March 2015, when the helicopters will arrive. Let me tell you about how the project is progressing so far.
Refurbishment
WINFRA is now delivering four major projects with a value of between £8 million and £52 million. Three of them are currently underway and involve the demolition and new build of a three storey Squadron Office Block; the refurbishment of technical facilities and the building of a new Quarter Master’s stores, a Motor Transport Garage and Secure Garaging.
An aerial view of RNAS Yeovilton taken prior to the beginning of work under the WINFRA project. [Crown Copyright]The contract for the fourth and final project – which will involve building a new Senior Rates Mess with associated Single Living Accommodation (SLA), cardiovascular fitness suite, Dental Centre, and the refurbishment of the current Medical Centre – has now been awarded. This momentous date in the project was marked with a turf-cutting ceremony at the site yesterday.
Turf-turning event at Yeovilton to mark the awarding of the final contract. L-R: Project Director from Carillion, Trevor Pratt; Commanding Officer of RNAS Yeovilton, Commodore Jock Alexander, and DIO Deputy Head Manager Projects West, Matt Harris. [Crown Copyright; LA (Phot) Iggy Roberts]When the demolition, refurbishment and building work is completed on the site RNAS Yeovilton will be a fantastic base for the Royal Navy’s and Army’s Wildcat Forces. The WINFRA team is really proud of the contribution we’re making to the Armed Forces – DIO’s purpose is to support the Armed Forces by providing what they need to live, work and train - the right facilities in the right place - and this project certainly meets these requirements!
Insight into our work at the Defence Infrastructure Organisation, or DIO for short. We’re part of the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and look after the military estate, both in the UK and overseas.
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