Military infrastructure upgrade completed at Leuchars

Above: Representatives of the ABP Leuchars Project delivery team with REME personnel inside the new Central Servicing and Inspection Facility. Front row left to right: Barry Ray, DIO MPP Army Programme Delivery Leader, Brigadier Jody Davies MBE, Commander 51st Infantry Brigade and Headquarters Scotland and Belinda Lunn, DEO Army Programme Director.
Copyright McLaughlin & Harvey

Upgraded facilities have been delivered for The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards and 2nd Battalion Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, including refurbished offices, garaging, a shared workshop, a central servicing and inspection facility and a new-build bespoke store.

At the formal opening of the new facilities on 5 March, Belinda Lunn, Defence Estate Optimisation (DEO) Army Programme Director, said: "I am delighted to see the result of this significant investment at Leuchars Station, which has delivered high-quality facilities for service personnel. This major upgrade in technical infrastructure has set the benchmark for our long-term programme to enhance the Army estate in Scotland.

Brigadier Jody Davies MBE, Commander 51st Infantry Brigade and Headquarters Scotland, said: "This impressive infrastructure upgrade delivered at Leuchars Station will enable our soldiers and officers to undertake their day-to-day duties in a modern, comfortable, and efficient working environment. It is excellent to see such investment in improved infrastructure to enhance how our people live, work, train and operate in Scotland."

The £62 million Leuchars Station project was delivered under the legacy of the Army Basing Programme by the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO), contracting to McLaughlin & Harvey Construction Ltd and Mott MacDonald.

Barry Ray, DIO MPP Army Programme Delivery Leader, said: "DIO has been pleased to work over the past 2 years with our industry partners McLaughlin & Harvey and Mott MacDonald on the fifth and final phase of the ABP Leuchars project, to provide the modern infrastructure the Army needs at Leuchars Station.  We are thrilled that it is already making a positive difference for service personnel both today and will in future. This sits alongside the new Medical and Dental Centre, which is nearing completion, as well as plans for further new facilities."

Martin Keys, Operations Director at McLaughlin & Harvey, said: "We are proud to celebrate the successful completion of this strategic defence project alongside our valued partners. Utilising our specialist knowledge and growing defence capabilities we have delivered facilities that meets the highest standards of security, resilience, and functionality. This achievement reflects the dedication and expertise of our entire team, and we remain committed to supporting national defence infrastructure with excellence and integrity."

Paul Harrison, General Manager Defence, Mott MacDonald, said: "This has been a showcase for a one-team integrated approach and we have worked to improve Defence infrastructure in an affordable, innovative, safe and collaborative way, overcoming significant challenges including extensive ground contamination, listed building constraints and legacy infrastructure. From planning and assessment, through to concept and design, then project managing the construction works contract on behalf of DIO, we are proud to have helped improve sustainable infrastructure development and contributed to an optimised UK Defence Estate."

Further investment is to be delivered at Leuchars Station under the DEO Army Programme. Construction is due to start in 2027 on living and technical infrastructure across the site that will support Unit rebasing following the 2021 Defence Integrated Review and as announced in Future Soldier.

The DEO Army Programme makes up the largest proportion of the MoD’s DEO Portfolio which is investing £5.1 billion in more modern and sustainable infrastructure across the Defence estate that meets future operational requirements and enhances the lived experience of military personnel.