Image courtesy of Purcell Miller Tritton Architects

Leading technical services provider, Inviron, is undertaking a full design and build M&E installation at a ground-breaking, purpose-built army recovery centre in Colchester, in conjunction with client Morgan Sindall plc, the Royal Military Police Association, the MOD, Help for Heroes and the Royal British Legion. 

Morgan Sindall has started construction work on the Colchester Garrison Personnel Recovery Centre, a purpose-built venue that will help injured servicemen and women.

The centre will provide residential accommodation for 29 soldiers and 31 day-attendees. It will give wounded, injured and sick soldiers the care that they need in their recovery and support their return to duties or their transition into civilian life.

Colin Clements, general manager at Inviron's Ipswich office, said: "This is a fantastic project to be working on and we really feel that we are helping to make a difference to the lives of the soldiers that will be cared for here once it's complete early in 2012.

"The purpose-built facility will be built in accordance with ‘DREAM' requirements, which is the equivalent to BREEAM for MOD sites. Our M&E installation includes natural ventilation, underfloor heating, domestic water services, power, lighting, nurse call/staff attack alarms and data cabling."

Tony Smith, senior project co-ordinator at Morgan Sindall, said: "This project is of national significance and will form the model for how future schemes are based.

"We're delighted to be working on a scheme that will make a genuine contribution to how servicemen and women are cared for in this country." 

Building started on site in February with Minister for Defence, Personnel, Welfare and Veterans, Andrew Robathan MP, attending to cut the first turf. He said: "Soldiers that are injured in service to our country deserve the very best. Experience shows that soldiers recover better if they are placed in a military environment. By basing the centre in Colchester, troops will be able to access the Garrison's full range of facilities including welfare, medical rehabilitation and education."

The Personnel Recovery Centre is due for completion in early 2012.

For more information about the Personnel Recovery Centre project, please visit www.helpforheroes.org.uk