Common use of INTRODUCTION & CONTEXT Clause in Contracts

INTRODUCTION & CONTEXT. In 2001, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) published a report entitled 'Modernising Defence Training'. The report highlighted that: • Future Defence Training needed to be more integrated; • Training needed to be managed on a Defence-wide basis to better support the increasing move towards joint deployments; and • That the training estate needed investment and rationalisation to ensure that the MoD facilities were used efficiently and were fit for purpose. These recommendations are at the heart of the Defence Training Review (DTR) Rationalisation Programme, which is a large and complex project seeking to transform the way that specialist technical training in the future is delivered. On 17th January, 2007, the Secretary of State for Defence announced that the Metrix consortium had been selected as preferred bidder for delivering ‘Package 1’ Training at a new Defence Technical College (DTC) at St. Athan, comprising specialist training for Aeronautical Engineering, Electro-Mechanical Engineering and Communications & Information Systems. The purpose of the DTC is to provide a rationalised technical training programme that would deliver modern, cost effective training regimes, both indoors and outdoors, to front line commands of all areas of the UK’s armed forces. As such, it was established that a modern, purpose-built estate was necessary to replace existing more limited and specialised facilities around the UK and to meet the above objectives. It also gives the opportunity to create a new training estate which is far more efficient and sustainable than much of the existing estate. In order to meet the requirements of the DTR Rationalisation Programme, a comprehensive site is required that provides, in addition to the operational training and learning facilities, all of the necessary associated developments including living accommodation, medical, sports and recreational, community facilities, places of worship, an energy centre and other associated facilities. Subsequently, on 12th May 2009, the current outline planning application for the Defence Technical College and its associated developments was submitted to the Council, alongside a separate outline application submitted by the Welsh Ministers for an Aerospace Business Park (ABP) on adjoining land (ref: 2009/00501/OUT). The ABP is being developed around the existing operational runway at St Athan as an aerospace centre of excellence for the maintenance, repair and overhaul of aircraft. The proposals for the DTC and the ABP have been formulated in tandem due to the provision of common infrastructure and overlap of certain facilities such as the proposed new Northern Access Road (NAR), the existing disused cross-runway and various drainage and utilities infrastructure. However, whilst there are planning issues common to both schemes, the purpose of this report is to provide an assessment of the development as it relates to the Defence Technical College only.