Cornwall Air Ambulance Trust is to develop a new Operations Facility at Newquay

 For copies of press releases in our PR archive about this development, please click here

The charity is very proud of recent announcements relating to the development of a new operations facility on the outskirts of Newquay Cornwall Airport.
 
We are also highly sensitive to possible concerns and questions which our supporters and donors in particular may have regarding the need for this move, and the reasons why the charity is doing this now.
 
Following a strategic review in 2009, and a move to temporary accommodation following the closure of RAF St Mawgan, the charity identified the need to modernise our front line operations in order to provde an up to date and effective air ambulance service for the people of Cornwall. Although our existing base has served us well for over 20 years, emerging statutory requirements to meet new clinical operating standards presented a strong liklihood that we could soon find ourselves unable to continue operations from our current location of temporary portakabins and hardened shelter.
 
After careful research the charity identified a short term opportunity to access European funding to help pay for the construction of the required  new facility, which would not only address the future operational concerns, but would also help the charity to develop new fundraising techniques for the future. We were able to apply for this funding and have been awarded an investment grant of almost £1m.
 
 
An additional and key benefit of the new operational base is that it has been designed to be extremely energy efficient, and it is intended that it will achieve BREEAM excellent in construction standards. This will help the charity to control its future running costs, which is very important to us and to those who support the charity.
 
Following a competitive tender process, the charity is appointing a principal contractor who gave specific assurances that more than 65% of the supply chain for goods and services in this construction project would be locally sourced in Cornwall.  The charity felt this was an important aspect in support of our Cornish economy and employment in the county.
 
Finally, the new operations facility will, for the first time, put the charity on a proper footing for the 21st century, and give our donors and service users the opportunity to engage with us in one easy location.
 
We plan to hold exhibitions and stakeholder engagement events very soon in Truro, and later at Royal Cornwall Show.  We also hope to erect a webcam on the construction site itself, and organise tours of the site for schools and community groups throughout the summer.  Most of all, we hope the community in Cornwall will join in and support this project, which is to deliver something truly for the people of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly and safeguard the air ambulance operations for future years.
 
Thank you.

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Main entrance view


Overhead approach view


Helipad view