DIO delivers final bed space at Culdrose
The Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) has delivered the final cabin in a major project to improve accommodation for Royal Navy personnel in Cornwall.
DIO’s Single Living Accommodation Modernisation (SLAM) project is celebrating the delivery of the final cabin at Royal Naval Air Station (RNAS) Culdrose, which brings the overall number of bed spaces to around 1,000.
Working with industry partner Debut Services Limited, DIO has spent over seven years improving living facilities for Sailors and Junior Ranking Officers. Completing the project means single personnel at RNAS Culdrose have benefited from the delivery of three phases of three and four-storey blocks accommodating more than 950 military personnel.
Speaking about his room at Culdrose, Lt Neil Edwards said:
“The building is very impressive. Debut have done a superb job and finished the build to a high specification. The rooms are large and bright with plenty of storage space; it’s like a home from home.”
The new facilities have been produced to a very high standard, providing officers with extra space, sizable storage facilities, telephone lines and Sky TV terminals.
Lt Commander (retired) Phil Wheatley, from Culdrose RNAS said:
"Supporting our Armed Forces as they prepare for operations is DIO's top priority. This accommodation is a great contrast to living conditions on the front line. The improvement to living space goes a long way towards enhancing our personnel’s quality of life.
“Delivering improved single living accommodation plays a key role in contributing to operational success. It also demonstrates the MOD’s commitment to improving the standard of accommodation for Service personnel. It is important that our military personnel have the best possible facilities.”
The accommodation has been built in line with sustainability principles and achieved the ‘DREAM Excellent’ rating. DREAM is the MOD equivalent of BRE Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) - a voluntary measurement rating for green buildings.
Howard Sims, of DIO, said:
“RNAS Culdrose plays a key role in supplying highly capable helicopter squadrons which contribute to operational success. It is important that Culdrose’s personnel have the best possible facilities.
“This project was delivered on time and to cost and provides top quality living accommodation at this important naval air station. The standard of the finished building and external areas is a credit to the project team.”
Press enquiries to: Sonia Southern, DIO Communications Officer
on 0121 311 2418 or email sonia.southern101@mod.uk
Notes to editors
1. Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) is part of the Ministry of Defence (MOD). It is responsible for managing and maintaining land and properties to meet the current and future needs of the MOD and personnel at home and abroad, and to support current operations.
2. Our work includes providing, supporting and improving: operational units; single living and service family accommodation; training areas and historic military sites. DIO actively manages these to ensure the needs of Defence are met, value for money is achieved, our heritage is protected and to achieve our environmental goals.
3. DIO was formed on 1 April 2011 when the former Defence Estates (DE) organisation was brought together with other property and infrastructure functions within department to form a single organisation. DIO manages the MOD’s property infrastructure and ensures strategic management of the Defence estate as a whole.
4. Debut is a Joint Venture company between Bovis Lend Lease and Babcock International Group and was formed in response to the MOD's Prime Contracting Initiative to drive efficiency and best value across the defence estate. Debut benefits from the proven global strength of Bovis Lend Lease, one of the world's largest real estate solutions providers, and Babcock International Group’s recognised proven track record as one of the UK’s largest providers of property management services. Debut manages both the Regional Prime Contract for the South West and the Functional Prime Contract to build, refurbish and maintain Single Living Accommodation for HM Armed Forces (Project SLAM).
5. Caption: Exterior of newly built single living accomodation at Culdrose. Please accredit to (Picture: Crown Copyright/MOD2012)
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