RAF Marham

A major programme to upgrade the facilities at the RAF Marham base that allowed the accommodation of the new F-35B Lightning II aircraft fleet - a major boost to the UK’s defence capability.

The Galliford Try/Lagan Construction Joint Venture was appointed in May 2017 to design and build a new aircraft hangar with associated support buildings known as an operational conversion unit as well as reconstructing the two runways.

Resurfacing the 1,855m long runway required the construction of two batching plants to prepare the specific asphalt and concrete needed for the new surface. Preparing the materials on site increased efficiency. During the work, flying was halted for only three weeks while construction teams resurfaced an intersection between the main runway and the secondary runway.

Also included in the scope of works was three new vertical take-off and landing pads for the F35Bs. The core of the pad was constructed with High Temperature Resistant Concrete which can withstand extremely high temperature and pressure from the jets and had never previously been produced in the UK.

The works forms part of a £250 million Defence Infrastructure Organisation programme of investment at the station.