New technical training facilities and additional accommodation at MOD Lyneham have been completed and handed over, according to the Ministry of Defence. The Defence Infrastructure Organisation led delivery to modernise the site for RAF training.
The £82 million programme supports the relocation of RAF No 4 School of Technical Training (4SoTT) from MOD St Athan in South Wales under Project CUBIT. The move consolidates ground engineering training at Lyneham on a purpose‑built footprint.
The package includes three Single Living Accommodation blocks with 96 bedspaces for trainees and a further 72 for permanent staff and RAF personnel from other units undertaking specialist courses. A new technical building brings together classrooms, laboratories, workshops and office space to support practical and classroom instruction.
An on‑site energy system comprising a 2.5MVA solar farm and battery storage will supply the new buildings. MOD states this is intended to provide resilience and a measure of self‑sufficiency for the facilities, reducing exposure to grid interruptions.
Fit‑out of the training building is now under way, with the facility scheduled to open in 2026. According to RAF programme leads, the infrastructure will enable the full spectrum of Ground Engineering Phase 2 and Phase 3 training to be delivered at Lyneham.
Kier Construction Western & Wales acted as main contractor, with Mott MacDonald providing technical services. The scheme forms part of DIO’s ongoing work at Lyneham, where the supplier has been active since 2015.
During construction, the project generated the equivalent of 19 new jobs. A small community investment package has upgraded the MOD Lyneham Community Centre to create a more accessible space for service families and local users.
Policy Wire analysis: The relocation under Project CUBIT marks a material change in the RAF’s training estate. For workforce planners, consolidating Phase 2 and Phase 3 courses at a single site should simplify postings and reduce duplication of training equipment, while the additional bedspaces are designed to smooth throughput.
The energy component is notable within government efforts to improve resilience across the defence estate. On‑site generation and storage should help manage peak demand and maintain training continuity during grid disruptions, aligning the new facilities with MOD objectives on estate sustainability and reliability.
No further land‑use changes are mentioned in the announcement. Officials emphasise the new infrastructure is expected to serve RAF technical training for decades.