Work is underway on a new £15.7m memorial facility in Staffordshire.

Contractor Stepnell is to deliver the new Remembrance Centre for the National Memorial Arboretum.

The centre, designed by Glenn Howell Architects, will expand and enhance the visitor facilities at the Arboretum, the UK's year-round focal point of remembrance.

The redevelopment project involves creating a new outdoor area called 'Heroes' Square', along with extensive improvements to existing facilities at the Arboretum.

With the completion of the transformed facilities, annual visitor numbers are expected to rise from 300,000 to approximately 500,000.

The new facility will be built to the front of the visitor centre, linked to it by a timber colonnade. It will house a rotunda space, an interpretation exhibition and temporary exhibition spaces, retail space, a cafe, entrance lobby and learning centre.

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Other features include a limestone façade along with a timber portico and slatted timber cloisters.

'Heroes' Square', designed by landscape architects Fira, will be created within the cloisters and will provide a formal square for set-piece ceremonies.

The existing visitor centre will also be remodelled, including the creating of an upgraded restaurant with a heightened ceiling and extensions to the north and south side of the current centre building.

Stepnell's Joint Managing Director, Mark Wakeford, said: "The new Centre is a truly inspiring development which will transform the experience of the Arboretum's increasing numbers of visitors, providing expanded and enhanced, modern facilities built to the very highest standards and fitting for this immensely important national site of remembrance and commemoration."

Director of the National Memorial Arboretum, Sarah Montgomery, added: "Stepnell impressed us with their sensitive and considered approach to the redevelopment of our visitor facilities.

"As a fully operating visitor destination for the entire duration of the build, this construction programme presents some rather unique challenges which Stepnell has addressed."

(LM/CD)