The Hercules joint venture team has been fighting it out with Skanska for the prize to redevelop the RAF base.

The MoD will close the existing RAF base at the end of this year and the plan is to convert the site into a major engineering training campus to develop skills in maintaining military equipment.

Defence Infrastructure Organisation’s current construction programme shows site mobilisation and enabling works in early 2014.

Work involves demolition of existing building, essential infrastructure work, delivering 53,000 sq m of new buildings as well as refurbishing 73,000 sq m of existing facilities.

The first phase of the development is scheduled to start early next year, and will be completed by the autumn of 2015 when the first staff and students will arrive at the college.

The project will create around 900 construction jobs at its peak.

Commodore David Elford, Commandant of the Defence College of Technical Training, said: “This is the first stage of the development of the Defence College of Technical Training at Lyneham, which will provide a home for the Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers when they move from Arborfield and Bordon in 2015.

“The move will provide more modern facilities for staff and students, adopting modern teaching methods combined with traditional military training to enhance and reduce the training experience for the trainees.”