Ground has been broken at Lydd Airport marking the start of construction of the new HM Coastguard search-and-rescue (SAR) helicopter base for the south east, operated by Bristow Helicopters.
The project, an investment of £7.8 million (approx. US$9.9 million), will create a new focal point for the region’s SAR service and significantly upgrade the facilities used by its crews. Construction is expected to be completed by early February 2018.
Lydd is the final new-build base to be constructed for the UK SAR helicopter service which Bristow Helicopters began operating in April 2015 on behalf of HM Coastguard. SAR operations have been conducted at a temporary base at Lydd Airport since August 2015.
There are 10 Coastguard bases distributed strategically around the United Kingdom, providing vital life-saving support on and offshore — to the fishing and other marine industries, as well as to land-based incidents including mountain rescue, missing persons and other medical emergencies.
Each base is staffed by a group of dedicated pilots and specialist winchman paramedics, winch operators, engineers, and support staff, many of whom transferred to the new Coastguard SAR service from the former military operation.
“Lydd is a key location for U.K. SAR in the South East of England, providing support across the English Channel, Kent, East and West Sussex, Suffolk, Norfolk, Surrey, Greater London and Essex,” said Neil Robertson, chief pilot of Lydd SAR.
“Our team’s focus is always on bringing people home safely from a search-and-rescue operation. These new facilities will ensure that during year-round training, and day-to-day operations we are able to live up to the incredibly high standards of the U.K. SAR service.”
Neil Ebberson, U.K. SAR project manager, added: “Nationwide, the U.K. SAR service has handled more than 3,500 search-and-rescue missions since April 1, 2015. The Lydd base will, like its sister sites across the U.K., feature the very best facilities, to ensure our people are able to work and rest in comfort, with all of the support services they need on-hand, when they need them.”
Hani Mutlaq, finance and HR manager at Lydd Airport, said: “We are pleased that work at the new site of the U.K. SAR base has started on schedule. This investment is warmly welcomed and coincides with rising passenger numbers, an increase in aircraft traffic, new job creation and substantial investment in facilities, including a multi-million pound runway extension and new hangars here at Lydd.
“This is a very exciting time for the airport and Bristow Helicopters’ decision to commit to developing a new base here has added to that momentum.”
The project is being designed and built by Westridge Construction Ltd, which works throughout South East England. “We are excited to have been selected to construct a facility that will make such an important contribution to coastal and maritime safety in our area,” said John Sinden, director.
“The new building is being delivered in line with the Government Construction Strategy including the use of Building Information Modelling (BIM) and modular accommodation units that are prefinished offsite before being incorporated into the new hangar. This project adds to our diverse portfolio of buildings and we thank Bristow Helicopters Ltd and U.K. SAR for entrusting our company with such a time critical scheme.”
