GRAHAM, a UK-based construction company, has started work on a new medical and dental centre in Leuchars Station for the British army and a ground marking ceremony was held to mark the occasion.
The construction contract, worth nearly £22m, was awarded by the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) to GRAHAM last year.
The new building will replace the aging current medical and dental centre, which was built in 1936.
Once the replacement facility is complete, medical personnel and patients will transition over to the new medical and dental centre and GRAHAM will demolish the old building.
The construction contract, worth nearly £22m, was awarded by the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) to GRAHAM last year
Graham Building North’s Regional Director, Chris MacLeod, said: "We are delighted to be continuing our longstanding relationship with Defence Infrastructure Organisation to help deliver new and improved health and wellbeing facilities for the military personnel and their families at Leuchars."
Once complete, the new facility will be of sufficient size to cater for the increasing number of personnel forecast to be based at the station in the coming years, as it is to become the Army’s hub in Scotland.
Around 3,700 personnel at the British Army establishment and their dependents will benefit from the new building, which will house physical rehabilitation and mental health facilities as well as GP and dental services.
The building has been carefully designed to be as sustainable as possible, including through thermal efficiency, solar panels, air source heat pumps, and provision of four electric vehicle charging stations.
Building materials have been selected not only on the basis of suitability but also to reduce carbon impact on the environment
Building materials have been selected not only on the basis of suitability but also to reduce carbon impact on the environment.
It is hoped that the building can be an example of sustainability in construction of future MOD medical and dental centres.
Surgeon Commodore Andy Nelstrop, Cdr Defence Primary Healthcare, said: "Delivering expert healthcare to our Armed Forces and ensuring that they are able to see a medical professional quickly is a priority for all those who work within Defence Primary Healthcare.
"It is fundamental that all our medical personnel and patients can work and be treated in a modern environment and have access to the latest equipment and resources, which is why the construction of this new centre is so important.
"It is just one part of our ongoing programme to ensure everyone in our military receives the primary healthcare they deserve, and I am delighted that all those based at Leuchars will soon be able to benefit from this fantastic facility."
Top image: Representatives from the British Army, Graham Building North and Defence Medical Services at the groundbreaking event. Image credit: Graham Building North
