DIO awards £560M military estate

Land May 18, 2023

UK training estate plays a crucial role in preparing troops for operations across the globe, including supporting the UK-based training of thousands of Ukrainian volunteers.

Defence Infrastructure Organisation has awarded a land management contract to Landmarc Support Services.

The £560M contract to manage the 156,000 hectares on which thousands of Armed Forces personnel train, will see Landmarc deliver management of facilities, rural estates and operational services, supporting some 1,308 jobs supported across the estate.

UK training estate plays a crucial role in preparing troops for operations across the globe, including supporting the UK-based training of thousands of Ukrainian volunteers.

Comprising 16 major armed forces training areas and 104 minor training areas including ranges and camps, the UK Defence training estate includes sites from Salisbury Plain in the South West to Barry Buddon in Scotland as well as many more. Through the new contract, Landmarc which is a joint venture between Mitie and Amentum will provide UK and visiting Armed Forces with a safe and secure place to live, work and train, while maintaining and improving the land, buildings and facilities that they use.

The contract will also deliver vital services to training troops, including providing them with around four million meals a year and approximately one million bed spaces.

Innovative, more responsive, and flexible services will be introduced for personnel using the training estate, resulting in facilities that will be more agile to meet the changing needs of the Armed Forces.

Minister for Defence Procurement, James Cartlidge said: “This significant investment will help to ensure we continue to offer safe, secure and well-maintained training facilities for our Service Personnel as they prepare for operations worldwide.

“The UK’s Defence Training Estate also provides a huge boost to our economy, with this contract sustaining more than a thousand jobs across the country.”

Training Estate teams have delivered specific operational training requirements, from the digging of trench systems and the re-design of training areas, to supporting on the ranges where Ukrainian recruits are developing their marksmanship skills.

Mark Neill, Managing Director at Landmarc, said: “We are thrilled to be awarded this new contract and build on 20 years of outstanding service delivery to ensure that the UK Defence Training Estate delivers safe and sustainable locations to train our Armed Forces.

“Every single one of our 1,300 strong team has had a part to play in providing the critical services that enable our Armed Forces to train effectively, deploy on operations and return home safely. We look forward to continuing our strong partnership with DIO and working with its wider industry partners to transform the lived experience of Armed Forces personnel who use the Defence estate to live, work and train.”

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DIO Landmarc Training Estate