One of the region’s largest construction projects in the region got the go-ahead this week when the Ministry of Defence awarded a £160 million to contractor Kier VolkerFitzpatrick for infrastructure to prepare the RAF Lakenheath airbase in Suffolk for two squadrons of US F-35s fighter jets.
At its peak, the project will involve up to 700 contractors on site and it will give a boost to the local economy with over 1,000 personnel and family living at the base. The Suffolk airbase will be the first permanent international site for US Air Force F-35s in Europe and and will involve co-locating US and UK F-35 capability in the UK. The contract awarded by the Defence Infrastructure Organisation includes the construction of a flight simulator facility, a maintenance unit, new hangars and storage facilities and building work is set to start next summer.
The MoD is also working with Forest Heath DC and Kier VolkerFitzpatrick to maxismise local jobs and training opportunities during and beyond the construction stage. A ceremony to mark the award of the contract was held at the airbase.
Defence minister Tobias Ellwood, said: “Today marks another step towards reinforcing the strong partnership between our two nations and an exciting milestone for RAF Lakenheath. This investment will see substantial benefits to local economy, bringing 1,000 new personnel with their families and we will work hard to ensure that the benefits will last long after construction ends.”
