National commercial property consultancy Lambert Smith Hampton (LSH) has been appointed by The Air Ambulance Service to advise on the acquisition of a new operational base and headquarters.
The new centre is needed to enable the service to expand its operational reach and continue to deliver its crucial life-saving medical services across the region. The current service covers large areas of the East and West Midlands from its existing base at Coventry Airport, and is shortly due to introduce a national service – The Children’s Air Ambulance.
Due to additional demands being placed on the service the charity has now identified a need for the acquisition of a new 20,000 sq. ft operational base including hangar space for its fleet of helicopters. This will extend the reach of the service and allow the organisation to increase its fleet and expand capability to provide new standards of care.
Ian Leather, Director at LSH, said, “We are delighted to be acting on behalf of the Air Ambulance on such an important project. We have to be mindful that a charitable organisation can’t be seen to spend ‘top dollar’ on a piece of land and buildings for the delivery of a new base so we are looking to identify land or buildings that can be secured at a competitive rate. The kudos of a landowner having The Air Ambulance Service on their site can’t be understated and there is also the added benefit of a developer or investor meeting their corporate and social responsibilities or potentially offsetting any planning obligations by assisting The Air Ambulance Service in achieving its aim.”
The service was originally established as Warwickshire and Northamptonshire Air Ambulance by Malcolm Hazell in 2003, with the main aim of providing a Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) to the counties of Warwickshire, Northamptonshire and the Milton Keynes area. In 2008 this was expanded to encompass Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Rutland and in 2011 they acquired the charity, The Children’s Air Ambulance.
Operating without any government funding, the organisation is paid for from charitable support from the general public and sponsors. It currently provides life-saving services by means of rapid helicopter and vehicle response to trauma and medical emergencies, using the highest standards of clinical care, and with The Children’s Air Ambulance an emergency transfer service for sick infants and children across the country.
Alex Toft, Director of Operations and Clinical Services said, This is a key step in the development of The Air Ambulance Service and by using the services of LSH we are confident of identifying the right solution for the improvement of the Air Ambulance Service, while also benefiting from the objectivity that LSH, as our advisers, will bring to the project.”
On average the service flies more than 1500 missions a year, covering an area close to 10,000 square miles, with a population of nearly five million. Using an Agusta 109 Power helicopter – the fastest civilian helicopter available with a cruise speed close to 200 mph – the average response time is just six minutes. The annual running cost of each helicopter is around £1.7 million, all raised through charitable donations.
