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03
Oct
Work to build new £9m Yorkshire Air Ambulance airbase underway
Work to create Yorkshire Air Ambulance’s new northern airbase has officially started.
The first spades hit the ground this week at the Northern Air Support Unit site on the outskirts of Skipton-on-Swale, six miles north-east of Ripon, which will become home to one of the charity’s air ambulance helicopters.
North Yorkshire Council approved plans for the site in July.
Yorkshire Air Ambulance said the purpose-built base will reflect the existing facilities at its Southern Air Support Unit site near Wakefield, and will create a “dedicated, long-term base for the northern region”.
Harrogate charity The Liz and Terry Bramall Foundation is the lead funder for the airbase, which will include a planning room, a training and simulation suite, crew accommodation, wellbeing zones and meeting spaces.
Local firm Hacs Construction, which is based in Ripley, has been appointed lead contractor, and the building has been designed by Leeds-based architects Group Ginger.
Mike Harrop, Yorkshire Air Ambulance’s chair, said:
Breaking ground on this project is a huge milestone for YAA. We have been working towards this for many years now, and at various points we didn’t even know if we’d even get to this stage.
A huge amount of hard work has gone in behind the scenes to get us here and knowing that we’re bringing to life the charity’s vision to secure our long-term future in the northern part of the region is wonderful. Everyone in Yorkshire will benefit from this build project.
An architect's impression of how the new base might look
YAA has also received grants and private donations to bring the project to life, as well as “pre-planned savings and investments”.
HELP Appeal, which supports NHS trusts to fund helipads, also made a £300,000 donation to help develop a helipad at the new base.
Kevin Hollinrake, Conservative MP for Thirsk and Malton and chair of the Conservative Party, added:
I’m delighted that Yorkshire Air Ambulance has found a permanent home for its new, Northern Air Support Unit at Skipton Bridge. Just about everyone I know has had friends or family who’ve benefited from this incredible service.
The new facility secures a long-term future for YAA in our part of Yorkshire, and even greater support for communities across the north of the region. YAA really is a lifeline for Yorkshire and I’m proud they are investing in our area, which will ultimately save lives well into the future.
The construction phase of the scheme is expected to take around 45 weeks to complete, before the site is fitted out internally.
The charity hopes the new airbase will be up-and-running by autumn 2026.
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