News on 24 April 2001
Contractor Laing has been granted the go-ahead to start work on a £55m PFI project to design, build and maintain a police firearms unit in Gravesend, Kent. The new Metropolitan Police Service firearms and public order training facilities will replace the existing buildings at Lippitt's Hill and Hounslow Heath.
Laing's PFI company Equion, which will run the project, has set up the special purpose vehicle Services Support Gravesend, to deliver facilities management for 25 years. Services will include site management, cleaning, catering and security.
Facilities will comprise indoor, outdoor and video ranges, tactical training arenas with mock houses, transport simulators, residential accommodation, classrooms and relaxation areas.
Laing was named preferred bidder in November 1999 and the complex is expected to be ready for use in January 2003.
