CLIENT: Bicester Heritage
LOCATION: Bicester, Oxfordshire
ROLE: Quantity Surveyor & Project Management
ENGAGEMENT DURATION: 11 years
STATUS: Ongoing
HISTORICAL TECHNICAL SITE
Preserving the past while enabling the future
The project began with the restoration of RAF Bicester, a former Bomber Command station, into a vibrant hub for classic and vintage motoring. The site’s layout and historic fabric have been carefully returned to their pre-1930s condition, preserving its architectural and cultural significance.
Key achievements include:
• Restoration of c.50 low-rise red brick buildings, from workshops to multi-storey offices
• Preservation of significant heritage features supported by Heritage Lottery Fund investment
• Infrastructure upgrades incorporating modern, energy-efficient MEP systems
• A phased delivery strategy aligned to the client’s commercial leasing and operational model
This approach has unlocked long-term reuse while ensuring rigorous heritage standards are maintained.
Added Value
Throughout the project, IKS has provided long-term cost leadership, delivering visibility, control, and commercial confidence across all phases.
Our support includes:
• Managing construction costs, professional fees, and direct client expenditure
• Developing a building-by-building cost extraction system to support tenant negotiation, insurance valuation, capital allowances, and future benchmarking
• Implementing robust change control integrated with collaborative digital tools for real-time commercial reporting
Our ongoing involvement ensures decisions are informed, risks are managed early, and best value is consistently achieved as the site continues to evolve.
THE COMMAND WORKS
Where historic significance and modern performance meet
Situated on the southern edge of the Technical Site, The Command Works delivers high-quality commercial accommodation that complements the historic estate.
The development includes:
• B2 and B8 space alongside sui generis motor trade units
• Sensitive expansion of the site’s commercial footprint
• Conversion of a once “At Risk” former RAF base into a thriving business community
The result is a modern employment destination that enhances, rather than competes with,
the site’s historic character.
PROJECT OVERVIEW
Bicester Heritage is being transformed into a global centre of excellence for automobiles of the past, present, and future. Set within the heart of the UK’s ‘Motorsport Valley’, the site brings together leisure, skills development, automotive innovation, exhibitions, and cultural events, creating an economic hub for the region and a destination for enthusiasts worldwide.
Our involvement spans more than a decade, supporting the sensitive conservation of historic assets while enabling sustainable commercial growth across the estate.