Morgan Sindall plc
20 January 2009
Morgan Sindall WINS £25 million RAF fighter jet facility and pilot training centre
Morgan Sindall, the construction and regeneration group, has strengthened its portfolio of defence projects after securing a £25 million scheme to extend the busiest live RAF training centre at RAF Valley in Anglesey.
The Group's construction business, Morgan Ashurst, has been awarded a £20 million project to build a 12,000m² hangar and training suite where future fast jet combat pilots will train. Morgan Est, the Group's infrastructure services business, will carry out all the ground works, piling, drainage and infrastructure works worth approximately £5 million.
The project is being carried out for VT Support Services (part of the VT Group) as part of the UK Military Flying Training System programme. It is being delivered under a 25-year, £635 million private finance initiative to improve aviation training capability by Ascent, a joint venture between VT Group and Lockheed Martin UK. The programme will provide Fast Jet Pilot Training at RAF Valley using the HAWK 128 aircraft, along with training infrastructure, teaching classrooms, simulators and aircraft hangars.
The hangar and training suite will house high-tech fighter planes, as well as areas for maintenance. In addition, Morgan Ashurst will create a new squadron base comprising a gym, IT suites and training rooms, containing state-of-the-art computer simulators, which allow service personnel to practise flying planes before taking to the skies.
Work is due to start this month and to be completed in Spring 2010.
Paul Smith, Chief Executive of Morgan Sindall plc, said:
'This scheme is further evidence of our growing presence in the defence sector, where demand currently remains strong. The project also demonstrates the synergies that exist between our divisions, with our Construction and Infrastructure Services divisions working side by side to provide integrated construction solutions.'
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ENQUIRIES:
Morgan Sindall plc Tel: 020 7307 9200
Paul Smith, Chief Executive
David Mulligan, Finance Director
Blythe Weigh Communications Tel: 020 7138 3204
Paul Weigh Mobile: 07989 129658
Editor's notes:
Morgan Sindall plc is a top UK construction and regeneration group which operates through five specialist divisions of fit out, construction, infrastructure services, affordable housing and urban regeneration.