Henry Brothers stages topping out ceremony at Beacon Barracks

Homeland April 16, 2024

Contractor Henry Brothers Construction has held a topping out ceremony to mark a key stage in the project to deliver new facilities at Beacon Barracks in Staffordshire for 280 (NATO) Signal Squadron.

The Squadron, which is the only British Army unit permanently assigned to NATO, will be moving from Dorset to its new home at Beacon Barracks near Stafford.

Henry Brothers is building a new £22.5m two-storey facility for the Squadron within a secure compound at Beacon Barracks. It includes offices, conference rooms, a reception area, workshops, garaging, storage rooms, welfare facilities and mechanical and electrical plant rooms, and will feature solar panels on the roof.

The company is also delivering a single-storey satellite communications building as part of the development for the Squadron, which, as a Deployable Communication Module, has a role to install and control strategic communication and information systems supporting a deployed NATO headquarters.

Personnel at the topping out ceremony for the new facilities included representatives from NATO, 280 (NATO) Signal Squadron, the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO), Beacon Barracks, contractor Henry Brothers Construction, project manager Mott MacDonald and multi-disciplinary design consultants Pick Everard.

Ian Taylor, MD of Henry Brothers Construction, said: “We are very pleased to see this significant milestone being reached on the new facility that Henry Brothers Construction is delivering at Beacon Barracks for 280 (NATO) Signal Squadron. The squadron plays an important role in NATO, and we are proud to support our armed forces.

“Henry Brothers has worked in partnership with the Ministry of Defence and the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) to deliver many improvements and new developments over the years. It’s great to see one of our current projects proceeding well and on track for completion next year, providing 280 (NATO) Signal Squadron with a new base to relocate to from Dorset.”

The project, which is scheduled to be Defence Related Environmental Assessment Method (DREAM) Excellent, is being delivered by Henry Brothers for the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) via the Crown Commercial Service Framework. Work is due to be completed in early 2025.

Pick Everard also worked on the project providing multi-disciplinary services including architecture, landscape architecture, interior design, civil and structural engineering, building services, sustainability, health and safety and BIM. As well as Pick Everard, Mott MacDonald also worked on the project.

Steve Cummings, operations director at Pick Everard, said: “This is an exciting project to help deliver, supporting our troops as well as NATO. We’re delighted to be working collaboratively with Henry Brothers as well as the Ministry of Defence, to design facilities that operate with efficiency and security front of mind, utilising the latest techniques to assist the 280 (NATO) Signal Squadron’s aims.

“It’s been a great pleasure to help reach this important milestone collectively, combining expertise across the construction supply chain and build on our strong reputation in the defence sector. We look forward to playing an active role as the project progresses through its development stages.”

Henry Brothers Construction is part of The Henry Group, which comprises a number of manufacturing and construction sector companies, ranging from external construction through to interiors fit out.

In partnership with its valued clients, it has a proven track record in education, defence, commercial, industrial, transport and healthcare sectors.

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Beacon Barracks Henry Brothers NATO Signal Squadron