Contractor recruited for £61m army barracks project

Willmott Dixon has been selected to carry out a £61 million project to upgrade a British Army barracks.

Through the Crown Commercial Service framework, the firm has been chosen by the Defence Infrastructure Organisation to construct new buildings and refurbish existing ones at Kendrew Barracks, in Rutland.

It will allow the 18 Army Education Centre and 1 Military Working Dogs to relocate from St George’s Barracks, which will be disposed of by 2026.

The 13,000 sq metre development will feature 173 new kennels, a vet centre, training facilities, squadron offices, a new gym and the repurposing of a hangar as the Regimental Headquarters and Quartermaster stores.

Nick Heath, director at Willmott Dixon, said: “This significant investment from the Army, supported by the DIO, is set to create high-quality facilities for those stationed at Kendrew Barracks.

“It’s always a privilege to contribute to national defence by making sure the estate meets the needs of those who access and use the facilities.

“Operating on a live barracks, as we will be throughout this project, creates unique challenges in terms of ongoing operations, but our wealth of experience within the sector means we are well positioned to understand and overcome these.”