The Air C2 Force has been spread across RAF Leeming, RAF Boulmer and RRH Staxton Wold since leaving RAF Scampton in 2022. According to a government announcement, it can now finish its move to Leeming in Northallerton after taking possession of new buildings there.
The Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO), which ran construction for the Ministry of Defence (MOD), said the project provides new offices and a 32-bed Single Living Accommodation block. Building began in September 2025, and the work cost approximately £15 million.
The unit watches UK skies at all hours, along with NATO airspace assigned to it and other locations abroad. It also directs military air systems to protect Britain and its NATO allies.
A first for a wider estates programme
The announcement presents Leeming as a milestone for the MOD's Defence Estate Optimisation (DEO) Portfolio. A contract signed in 2023 covers key DEO projects, and Leeming was the earliest of them to start on site and the first to reach completion. The DIO describes DEO as Defence's largest estates change programme, with the goal of a smaller and more efficient estate.
Under that contract, seven contractors took on numerous regional work packages through a single arrangement. The DIO says this lets the firms swap good practice and design ideas while applying sustainable building methods consistently. At Leeming, Galliford Try held the contract to develop the design and build the infrastructure, and Arcadis provided design assurance.
Building features
Both buildings were put up using pre-cast concrete. The announcement says this method makes them highly airtight and energy efficient. Heating comes from air source heat pumps that draw partly on solar power, and the buildings reuse collected rainwater. The DIO says these features should keep running and upkeep costs down.
Handover and community project
At a ceremony attended by contractors and the project team, the DIO formally passed the facilities to Air Vice-Marshal Anthony Lyle, Air Officer Commanding 2 Group, and to Air Commodore Simon Blackwell, Commander Air Bases.
Separately, Galliford Try paid to refurbish the base's Cinebowl, a cinema and ten-pin bowling venue used by Service families at the remote station. The announcement calls this part of a social value initiative.
