A small ceremony was held to mark the topping out of the structure, which will measure over 12,000m2 once complete. The building will host medical services for military personnel based at Catterick Garrison, as well as some primary and community NHS services for members of the public and military families.
The building is the first MOD-NHS integration of this scale, providing benefits to both parties and residents of Catterick and wider Richmondshire through shared learning and experience.
Representatives from the MOD's Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) and Defence Medical Services (DMS), the NHS, contractor Tilbury Douglas, and Technical Support Provider Aecom attended the event and were briefed on the progress of the project.
Tilbury Douglas started construction earlier this year on behalf of DIO and has now completed the supporting structure. The next stage is to attach external cladding and curtain walls before installing the roof. The building should be wind and weather-proof in early 2025 when work will begin on the interior of the building.
The building will meet both MOD and NHS building standards and has been designed with climate resilience and sustainability in mind. The design includes:
- 600m2 of solar panels on the roof
- air source heat pumps
- electric vehicle charging points
- low energy lighting
- intelligent building management systems to reduce energy use
![](https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/66d71e7cc63bb34da0709f6c/20240828_-_CICC_topping_out_-_David_Salmond_signing_steel_beam_960x640__Crown_Copyright_MOD_2024_.jpg)
DIO's David Salmond signing a steel beam on the roof of the new building. MOD Crown Copyright.
David Salmond, DIO's Major Projects and Programmes lead for UK Strategic Command, said:
We're pleased to reach this significant construction milestone for this groundbreaking new facility. The success of the project to date is thanks to the working relationships built between the MOD, NHS, AECOM and Tilbury Douglas, and we look forward to those relationships continuing to bear fruit as we focus on the next stage of construction.
The building is expected to be completed in early 2026, with medical services moving in later in the year.
![](https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/66d71e95c63bb34da0709f6e/20240828_-_Concrete_pumping_at_CICC__Crown_Copyright_MOD_2024__960x640.jpg)
Concrete being pumped from the ground to the roof level of the new building. MOD Crown Copyright.
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