SWEDISH-based construction giant Skanska has been chosen to build a new £75 million barracks for the army at Woodbridge.More than 700 troops are to move on to the base in 2006 when it will become a major support centre for 16 Air Assault Brigade.
SWEDISH-based construction giant Skanska has been chosen to build a new £75 million barracks for the army at Woodbridge.
More than 700 troops are to move on to the base in 2006 when it will become a major support centre for 16 Air Assault Brigade.
The first troops to move there will be the 23rd Engineers' Regiment, and they will be followed by a second regiment later.
As well as bringing the troops to the area, the new army base is also expected to create a number of civilian jobs nearby.
Skanska will design and build the new barracks which will include an officers' mess, firing ranges, assault courses, training, and medical facilities.
The new base is on the site of the former USAF Woodbridge base, and it is expected that a number of Apache helicopters from Wattisham Airfield will also be based there for training purposes.
Final details of the new barracks will be arranged between Skanska and the MoD by the end of the year, and the two-year construction programme is expected to start in early 2004.
The new base is expected to be known as Hawker Barracks and it is expected to give a boost to many local facilities, especially Sandlings Primary School.
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