OPERATION MAKEOVER: Government plans £94million works at Northwood defence base

The government has prepared a bidding process for a contract to deliver “enabling works” to Northwood Headquarters.

Valued at £94million (excluding VAT), the plans will involve the construction of a multi-storey car park and “associated site development works”.

The facility acts as the headquarters of the Strategic Command, the Permanent Joint Headquarters, Commander Operations for the Royal Navy, and the NATO Allied Maritime Command.

Construction is estimated to begin on April 8, 2026, and will conclude on September 8, 2028.

The Defence Infrastructure Organisation, part of the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD), is expected to publish the tender on Monday, October 6.

According to Construction Enquirer, the enabling works will “pave the way for a larger redevelopment scheme at Northwood HQ”.

Planning consent was reportedly secured earlier this year under a Special Development Order, allowing the MoD to build up to 10,550 square metres of extra residential space and nearly 29,000 square metres of floorspace for other operational buildings.