WORK has begun on the Midlands Air Ambulance charity’s new airbase and headquarters.

The new facility, which has been in planning for more than four years, will enhance the charity’s pre-hospital helicopter-led emergency medical service, and be used as a training facility for Worcestershire-based paramedics.

Construction got underway on Wednesday, March 3 at the Shropshire/Staffordshire border.

The project is expected to complete in late 2022.

The new facility will provide a purpose-built environment for clinical staff, advanced clinical simulation training room, and space for two aircraft, allowing the charity to expand its service in the future. It will complement the charity’s existing air ambulance-led service across the six Midlands counties.

Hanna Sebright, chief executive of Midlands Air Ambulance Charity, states: “The development of a purpose-built airbase and charity headquarters has been strategically planned for several years to improve the long-term resilience of the charity and to provide enhanced pre hospital care to people across the Midlands region. Therefore, the turf cutting ceremony was a significant milestone in bringing our vision to fruition.

“This new facility will ensure the critical care team are equipped to treat the increasingly complex patient cases and enhance our daily lifesaving service, featuring a purpose-built clinical training facility and more suitable environment for our aircrew when they return from complex, stressful and challenging air ambulance missions.”

James West, chief operating officer at the site's main contractor Morris Property, said: “It is a privilege to be working on this important and well-planned project for such a worthy cause. Undertaking the enabling works signals a major step forward for the charity and its future across the Midlands region.”