Published 10 February 2023 at 10.45
Domestic. For Gotland's regiment, stage 2 is now officially underway. In a biting wind of austerity, the first sod was taken for a new barracks with room for up to 280 conscripts.
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– The path from decision to this first sod has been unusually short and it is due to very good cooperation with the Fortifications Agency, the headquarters' local planning unit, contractors and Region Gotland, says regiment commander Magnus Frykvall on the defense website
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He underlines the importance of the continued expansion at Tofta.
– In order for us to be able to continue to raise the defense capability, and thereby improve security both on Gotland and for the rest of Sweden, it is crucial that we get an infrastructure that is adapted to the task.
– With this sod stage 2 starts at Tofta and we take an important step in our mission to support the growth of the Swedish Armed Forces on Gotland. The barracks will be the first in the country to be built according to the Swedish Fortifications Agency's new concept for type buildings that create good conditions for time- and cost-effective construction projects, says Christer B Andersson, head of the Swedish Fortifications Agency's planning unit.
Stage 1 at Tofta was planned for a small battle group of employed soldiers who were trained on the mainland. Already when the shovel was put in the ground in 2018, reality had in some parts run away from the planning as the Gotland regiment had been re-established. Since then, Sweden has also reintroduced conscription and stage 2 is largely about creating the conditions for a significantly larger conscription education on Gotland. Anna Bredin is the head of the newly formed life company, which will take over responsibility for the conscription training from the upcoming indents.
– This will create very good conditions for the training, where we will have all the facilities together, which will remove many time wasters . Today's accommodation is of a good standard, but it is far too small.
The second expansion stage includes, among other things, the barracks, military restaurant, logistics centre, defense health care, scrubbing facility. The cost frame is SEK 1.6 billion and the various buildings will be completed between 2024 and 2026.