Yorkshire soldiers get new accommodation
Defence Estates (DE) has delivered top-notch accommodation for soldiers based in North Yorkshire with the completion of a new Single Living Accommodation (SLA) block at Catterick.
A soldier enjoying his new accommodation at Marne Barracks [Picture: Crown copyright/MOD 2010]
Working with specialist contractor Caledonian Building Systems, DE supplied the new building at Marne Barracks, Catterick, which is now home to around 70 soldiers.
Caledonian built the accommodation block from modular units made at its factory in Newark, Nottinghamshire. These modules were then put together on site in double-quick time - just 12 weeks.
This off-site construction solution was crucial to the project - allowing junior rank soldiers newly located at the barracks to move into their new bedrooms as quickly as possible.
Major Karl Trevelyan, of 5th Regiment Royal Artillery, said:
The new accommodation supplied by Defence Estates for 5 Regiment Royal Artillery, has enabled soldiers currently deploying on operations in Afghanistan every 18 months to have an excellent standard of accommodation with state-of-the-art services whilst in the UK.
It has also enabled the Regiment to guarantee soldiers a permanent home within Marne Barracks. Before the provision of this superb facility our soldiers were forced to pack up their belonging prior to deploying with a guarantee that when they returned they would be accommodated somewhere else in the Barracks.
The new building also provides soldiers with shared common rooms, kitchenettes and utility rooms. Caledonian was awarded the contract to construct the two-story building and complete mechanical work, electrics, cladding, roofing and solar panels.
Cooking for one; a soldier uses the new facilities at Marne Barracks [Picture: Crown copyright/MOD 2010]
It fills a need for additional accommodation at the barracks and has been built to a high standard. Hot water is provided by solar heating, whilst insulated metal cladding and an aluminium standing sealed roof improve the building’s energy efficiency.
Mike McCullagh, Project Manager at Defence Estates, said:
We were very impressed with the speed of delivery and the quality of the build. The new building has been well received, not only by the barracks but most importantly by the soldiers who it accommodates.
DE worked with its regional industry partner CarillionEnterprise to award the contract to Caledonian in early summer last year.
Ian Kemp, Business Development Director at Caledonian, added:
The off-site approach can reduce build programmes significantly. Work can be carried out on and off-site at the same time and common delays such as adverse weather can be avoided.
Building off-site can also help improve sustainability, particularly in terms of recycled content, waste reduction and carbon efficiency.”