Purpose-Built Facility to Support Lifesaving Emergency Response

Commissioned by Midlands Air Ambulance Charity, this major development provides a new airbase and headquarters facility on the Staffordshire–West Midlands border. The project delivers a two-storey administration and training building, a single-storey double-height hangar, and dedicated maintenance areas. Designed to future-proof the service’s advanced pre-hospital emergency care, the new base enhances operational efficiency and supports the charity’s long-term growth.

Craddys were appointed to provide full civil and structural engineering design across all RIBA stages. Our scope included the reinforced concrete superstructure for the headquarters building, the steel-framed hangar, foundations, external works, and the full building drainage network. Close coordination with the architect and MEP team ensured the facility met stringent requirements for servicing, performance, and operational resilience.

The hangar building presented one of the project’s key engineering challenges, requiring large clear-span entrance doors capable of safe operation in severe weather. Craddys developed a robust structural solution to meet these demands while maintaining functionality and safety. The project successfully achieved completion after a four-year programme.