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Equipment and support personnel to co-locate at Wiltshire super-site

MINISTRY OF DEFENCE News Release (181/2008) issued by The Government News Network on 4 August 2008

Plans for a major new defence centre in North Wiltshire have been given the green light today by Defence Minister Derek Twigg. The project, known as 'Corsham09', will accommodate 2,200 Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) personnel and their industry partners on the Basil Hill site in Corsham.

The PFI contract for the site is worth £690 million under a 25-year PFI deal, and will combine offices from the Corsham area. By collocating MoD staff on one site with industry partners, there will be greater support and delivery to the frontline. It will particularly improve information systems and services to all parts of the UK defence community, including the MoD's worldwide strategic communications systems used by troops deployed on operations worldwide.

Construction work will start in November this year, which will include brand new single living accommodation for 180 service men and women.

Defence Under Secretary Derek Twigg said:

"The work of MoD staff at Basil Hill is key to our front line forces around the world and this project reflects our determination to invest in state-of-the art infrastructure to support UK troops. Today's announcement means that ageing and unsuitable office and living accommodation at our Corsham sites will be replaced by modern, environmentally friendly and well-designed facilities, with enhanced information systems which will improve our service to all parts of the Defence community.

"We're contracting for this new complex of buildings under a 25-year Private Finance Initiative deal - which means MoD pays only for the use of the buildings and associated support services. "

Richard Groome of Inteq, the consortium that will build and run the new complex said:

"We have designed new accommodation facilities that will create a positive, 21st Century environment in which service personnel and civilians can live and work. Inteq recognises that this is a very important initiative for the MoD and we are confident that by bringing the expertise of Interserve and John Laing together we will deliver real benefits for our Armed Forces and value for money solutions for the MoD."

NOTES TO EDITORS

1. The PFI contract, worth approximately £690 Million over its 25-year life, aims to meet an integrated requirement for services, facilities and capital works to support Defence Equipment &Support's Information Systems and Services organisation and 2(NC) Sig Bde Headquarters' operational output while improving site infrastructure. The contract will see the significant redevelopment of the Basil Hill site. Seven new buildings are proposed and will provide offices, living accommodation, sports, storage and reception facilities as described below:

a. Operational command building for the DE&S ISS Headquarters and Global Operations Security and Control Centre (GOSCC)
b. Single Living Accommodation for 180 service personnel with mess and conference facilities
c. Sports hall
d. Security building providing reception and control room facilities
e. Combined stores
f. Motor transport workshop

There will also be a substantial refresh of retained facilities.

2. Key Points of the New Working Environment for Corsham are:

a. The consolidation of DE&S ISS from four sites onto a single site at Basil Hill;

b. The replacement and relocation of existing inadequate and dilapidated living accommodation for military personnel at Corsham providing 180 service personnel with excellent, modern facilities;

c. The rationalisation of existing car parks. Much of the existing vehicle parking does not meet MOD-mandated security stand-off distances from buildings under any heightened security state;

d. New sports facilities including fitness suite, squash courts, all weather sports pitch and grassed sports pitch;

e. Management of the Corsham Underground area.

3. The improved information systems typically range from providing everything from telephones and computers in the Head Offices of the MOD and throughout the defence community, through to the provision of operationally critical communications to the frontline, via the Skynet 5 satellite programme, as currently employed in Iraq and Afghanistan. These communication and information services are provided in conjunction with our delivery partners who are vital in ensuring that defence gets what it needs. We are also responsible for ensuring that our networks are monitored and timely restoration is done in the event of any problems with our networks, this is a 24 hours a day, 365 days a year task.

4. The construction programme will commence in 2008 and all major building work will take place in the first three years. This PFI contract has been the subject of detailed negotiation and scrutiny to ensure that the contractual details are absolutely right for a contract lasting 25 years.

5. Units that will be based on the site include Defence Equipment and Support's Information Systems & Services organisation (DE&S ISS) and 2(National Communications) Signal Brigade.

6. The PFI contract will secure many existing jobs in the local areas with potential for new job creation. At the peak of construction activity Laing O'Rourke will require about 380 staff on site. About 80 MOD posts will transfer to Inteq under the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations (TUPE) rules. No redundancies are anticipated as a result of this transfer.

7. The programme has identified some 55 hectares of MOD land in Corsham that will not be required. Defence Estates will manage the disposal of the surplus land at Corsham.

8. Inteq was awarded preferred bidder status in 2006 as result of a competition. Laing O'Rourke will provide new works and Interserve FM will provide the refurbishment of existing buildings and also the services element of the contract. North Wiltshire District Council has granted planning permission for the scheme.

9. Around 100 staff working for contractors who currently provide sole support to the Corsham estate will also transfer to the Inteq consortium under TUPE rules.

10. For further details visit http://www.mod.uk