RAF Cosford, located in Shropshire, has a rich history dating back to its establishment in 1938.
Originally opened as a joint aircraft maintenance, storage, and technical training unit, it played a crucial role during World War II, training thousands of airmen in various trades. The site also housed No. 12 Ferry Pool of the Air Transport Auxiliary, which included notable women pilots like Amy Johnson.
Today, RAF Cosford is home to the Defence School of Aeronautical Engineering, the Defence School of Photography, and the RAF School of Physical Training. It also hosts, the RAF Museum Cosford which features a vast collection of historic aircraft and exhibits that attract approximately 500,000 visitors annually and, an annual airshow at the air-base and adjacent airfield, drawing aviation enthusiasts from across the country.
Having secured Round 1 National Lottery Heritage Funding to finance project development, we provided our client, RAF Museum Midlands, with robust cost planning and value engineering at RIBA Stage 3 to align the aspirations of project Inspiring Everyone within the parameters of the available capital budget.
Our advice to bring forward the project commencement date and pivot to a two-stage design and build procurement route at RIBA Stage 4 has provided the client with the necessary cost certainty to support the Round 2 funding application, ensuring momentum and keeping the dream of a world-class visitor experience alive.
The RAF motto, “Per Ardua ad Astra,” encapsulates both the challenges and aspirations of this ambitious project. The goal is to deliver a modern, interactive, and educational experience while addressing the importance of enhancing biodiversity and the mental health of site personnel by improving the on-site public realm.
In the context of traditional construction activities, improving accessibility to a nationally important collection of historic aircraft requires the construction of new buildings of a scale and size that can accommodate collection pieces that cannot currently be exhibited safely and cost effectively. This project aims to ensure that these invaluable artefacts are preserved and displayed in a manner befitting their historical significance.
| Procurement Route | Value | Services Provided |
|---|---|---|
| Two-Stage Design & Build | £25m | Cost Planning, Quantity Surveyor |
