Laing O’Rourke has entered into a contract to construct new facilities for the Ministry of Defence (MOD) at Alexander Barracks in Pirbright, Surrey. The project aims to establish the necessary infrastructure for developing a ‘centre of excellence’ dedicated to non-infantry Basic Training for the British Army.
This initiative is part of the Defence Estate Optimisation (DEO) Army Programme, facilitating the consolidation of training activities at Pirbright and enabling the closure of Sir John Moore Barracks in Winchester and Prince William of Gloucester Barracks in Grantham.
Defence Estate Optimisation (DEO) Army Programme – Strategic Alliance Contracts
The Defence Estate Optimisation (DEO) is the largest estate change program within the UK’s Army, investing £5.1 billion in modern, greener, and more sustainable infrastructure. Last year, Laing O’Rourke was one of seven companies that signed the MOD’s Strategic Alliance contract, committing to deliver crucial infrastructure work across the DEO Portfolio.
The Strategic Alliance Contract establishes long-term relationships across the program, emphasizing collaboration and best practices. Unlike the traditional tendering process, where businesses bid for individual projects, the Strategic Alliance Contract takes a more efficient and programmatic approach, which allows the DEO to tender multiple projects in a single process, improving timelines, project quality, and overall efficiency.
It is understood that the strategic alliance approach combines features of Early Contractor Involvement (ECI), where the contractor provides significant inputs for project development, followed by the use of an Alliancing Contract agreement for the construction phase.
This ensures a shared vision within the DEO portfolio, where discussions on best practices and innovative design options prioritize the needs of military personnel. Utilizing reliable building plans and delivery strategies leads to time and cost savings for Defence, fostering a consistent and sustainable approach to building practices.
Martin Staehr, Director of UK Building at Laing O’Rourke, supported this approach and said “The Strategic Alliance approach represents best practice in public sector procurement. It is highly efficient and enables vital collaboration on elements that are critical for successful delivery, such as standardisation of design. This means we can fully deploy our manufacturing led operating model and use modern methods of construction to improve programme, quality, sustainability outcomes and worker safety.”
The Facilities at Alexander Barracks - The Scope of Work of Laing O’Rourke
The upcoming facilities at Alexander Barracks will include:
- Permanent Staff and Recruit Single Living Accommodations,
- Combined Officer and Senior Non-Commissioned Officer Mess facilities,
- A combined training centre with two Headquarters offices,
- Enhancements to the Medical and Dental facility featuring additional rehabilitation treatment facilities
- A reception centre, guardhouse, tailors, and supplementary facilities for the Army Leadership Studies Centre.
Additionally, alongside the new facilities within the Barracks, a brand new nursery situated outside the Barracks will be constructed to serve the needs of Service Families and the local community. The work is set to commence in January 2024, with delivery planned in phases over the upcoming years.
Belinda Lunn, DEO Armmy Programme Director, expressed enthusiasm for the Alexander Barracks development, an exciting era for Army basic training. According to her, a key focus is providing essential facilities and infrastructure for future recruits and their trainers, and she said that she looked forward to collaborating with all partners to deliver the shared vision for this significant project successfully.
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