Defence
Shaping places that strengthen the UK defence estate
The UK defence estate is one of the largest and most complex property portfolios in the country. It includes operational facilities, specialist training environments, workplaces and living accommodation supporting thousands of military personnel.
We have more than 25 years’ experience supporting defence clients across this diverse estate. Working with the Ministry of Defence (MoD), the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) and delivery partners, we help shape environments where personnel can live, work and train safely and effectively.
We have the security clearances and experience of the specific technical requirements, complexities, logistical and security challenges these spaces present, as well as the very different risks they face. Our solutions are affordable, sustainable, practical and fit-for-purpose, delivering value for money for our clients.
Our defence experience is strengthened by work across other technically demanding sectors including advanced manufacturing, industrial facilities and infrastructure. These environments share many characteristics with defence buildings, including precision engineering, complex servicing requirements and high levels of resilience. By combining insight from across sectors, we develop practical and future-ready solutions for defence estates.
Featured
Defence projects
Defence
A long-standing and trusted partner, delivering projects across the full spectrum of military estate needs
Trusted delivery in secure, live environments
We have extensive experience delivering projects on live operational estates and within high-security and restricted sites. Our teams hold the appropriate security clearances and work confidently within MoD and DIO frameworks, ensuring projects are delivered safely, compliantly and in alignment with operational requirements.
A proven defence track record
Our portfolio spans nationally significant and technically complex defence projects, from the UK Hydrographic Office headquarters to specialist training and operational facilities including the Typhoon Training Facility, Astute Class Training Facilities at HMNB Clyde, the Installed Engine Test Facility at RAF Lossiemouth and our involvement in the Defence Estate Optimisation Programme (DEOP) at RAF Boulmer and RAF Leeming.
Design quality meets technical rigour
Defence projects demand delivery within highly prescriptive frameworks. Our strength lies in combining robust technical compliance with strong design quality, bringing spatial intelligence, usability and long-term adaptability to every project. Our solutions are practical, buildable and focused on whole-life performance and value for money.
Residential capability at scale
We have delivered thousands of Single Living Accommodation (SLA) bed spaces across defence estates including Catterick Garrison, Ripon Garrison and RAF bases nationwide, alongside associated dining, welfare, training and sports facilities. Using modular construction, MMC and traditional build our teams respond flexibility to programme, cost and operational constraints, with experience of Building Safety Act requirements, including Higher-Risk Buildings, ensuring safe, compliant and well-managed living environments within secure defence contexts.
Sustainable, high-performance defence estates
Sustainability and decarbonisation are central to how we approach every defence project. Through passive design principles, fabric-first strategies and smart building technologies, we reduce energy demand, improve operational efficiency and support data-driven estate management, delivering affordable, resilient and high-performing environments across the defence estate.
Cross-sector insight strengthening defence delivery
Our defence expertise is deepened by experience across advanced manufacturing, technology, industrial and infrastructure sectors. Projects including Siemens’ rail manufacturing facility at Goole, Airbus’s Wing Integration Centre at Filton, Bentley Motors and Hinkley Point C bring valuable insight into security, resilience, precision engineering and complex operational environments.
latest
Defence news
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Events
We're attending DPRTE 2026, supporting the future of defence estates
DPRTE (Defence Procurement Research Technology Exportability) 2026 is an opportunity for us to collaborate and explore new ways to shape the next generation of defence estates and buildings.
Date: 20 Jan 26
by AHR
Practice News
Stuart Bryson to lead AHR’s defence sector group
We're delighted to announce regional director Stuart Bryson's appointment to lead our defence sector group, helping to strengthen the UK defence estate.
Date: 11 Mar 26
by AHR
Thought Leadership
Reframing placemaking: How to create places that work in practice
This thought piece series explores how placemaking can be meaningfully applied in practice, drawing on our own project experience, multi-sector insight and interdisciplinary expertise.
Date: 16 May 25
by AHR
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