Galliford Try has officially begun work on two major defence projects at RAF Leeming in North Yorkshire and RAF Boulmer in Northumberland, the first construction schemes to move forward under the Ministry of Defence’s £5.1bn Defence Estate Optimisation (DEO) portfolio.

The DEO programme, one of the largest military infrastructure investments in a generation, aims to modernise accommodation, technical facilities, training areas, housing and office space for more than 100,000 personnel and civilian staff across the UK.

Galliford Try was appointed to the MOD’s Strategic Alliance in 2023, a contract designed to replace traditional tendering with a collaborative, programme-led approach. The model is intended to encourage contractors to share best practice and deliver innovative, user-focused designs.

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The £26.5m RAF Boulmer scheme and the £12.74m RAF Leeming scheme will deliver new Single Living Accommodation and office facilities for the Air Command and Control (Air C2) Force. The improvements follow the relocation of the unit from RAF Scampton and are designed to enhance integration, resilience and agility in its mission to provide 24/7 air surveillance of the UK and NATO airspace.

Air Commodore Simon Blackwell, Commander Airbases for the RAF, said: "This strategic move supports the RAF's commitment to operational excellence while reflecting our dedication to providing high-quality working and living environments for our personnel. The relocation enables enhanced integration, resilience, and agility across the Air C2 Force, ensuring it remains ready to meet current and future challenges."

Christian Standage, Defence Director for Galliford Try, added: "We are delighted to have started on site at RAF Leeming and RAF Boulmer. As the first Strategic Alliance partner to go live on projects from the Defence Estate Optimisation (DEO) portfolio, we want to credit the hard work of our teams working within DIO and the MOD to progress the designs that meet our customer's aspirations for future defence assets. We look forward to collaborating closely with all stakeholders to make that vision a reality."

The Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO), delivering the work on behalf of the MOD, described the start of construction as a significant milestone in the DEO programme, which is expected to deliver long-term operational and sustainability benefits across the defence estate.