Morgan Sindall commence works with Yorkshire Universities Air Squadron teaching facility at RAF Leeming
Morgan Sindall Construction’s North East and Cumbria business has started work on a new £7.5m headquarters at RAF Leeming on behalf of the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) and the Yorkshire Universities Air Squadron (YUAS), following their relocation from RAF Linton-on-Ouse which is being closed and sold for alternative use under wider plans to enhance the Ministry of Defence (MOD) Estate.
The new single-storey Squadron HQ building will include, offices, an operations room, workshop, as well as several changing and storage facilities, and has been designed to enhance training and welfare provision.
The project - delivered under the MOD’s Defence Estate Optimisation (DEO) portfolio, which is investing £5.1Bn in a more modern and sustainable Defence estate – is being managed by the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO), with Morgan Sindall contracted to deliver the Design & Build, and Aecom as the Technical Services Provider.
To mark the start on site, a groundbreaking ceremony was held at the airbase, with attendees including representatives from the DIO, Morgan Sindall Area Director Alex Isted, Station Commander Group Captain John Lawson, and YUAS Squadron Leader Jarrod Reece. All were invited to take part in a ‘spade in the ground’ photoshoot.
Alex Isted, Area Director for Morgan Sindall in the North East, said:
Morgan Sindall’s commitment to supporting the armed forces is evident both in the projects we deliver – such as this initiative to enhance teaching facilities and strengthen the training of the next generation of pilots – and our Gold Armed Forces Covenant accreditation, signifying our commitment to actively supporting veterans, service leavers, reservists and their families.
This project represents an exciting opportunity to further develop our partnership with the DIO, with further projects due to start in 2026. We look forward to completing our work here, and to future opportunities to work alongside one another, improving the estate for all elements of the armed forces.”
Formed in 1969, YUAS has flown from a number of RAF stations, before being relocated to RAF Leeming to provide flying training for those who wish to pursue a career in the Royal Air Force.
As well as the new YUAS HQ building, minor refurbishment works are being carried out on an existing hangar to further improve operational capacity for No.9 AEF who provide introductory flying experience to cadets from the Air Training Corps.
ENDS