DIO delivers Somerset military accommodation ahead of time
The Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) has delivered new living accommodation for junior officers stationed in Somerset on a new type of joint Army and Royal Navy helicopter base.
Working with industry partner Debut Services, DIO has handed over the Junior Officer’s Single Living Accommodation (JOSLA) development at RNAS Yeovilton on budget and three months ahead of schedule.
The block provides rooms for more than 60 personnel and is the first project of the Wildcat Infrastructure (Winfra) programme to develop RNAS Yeovilton into the Single Typed Air station (TAS) for the future Army and Royal Navy Wildcat Force.
Wildcat is the latest generation of multi-role helicopter, designed as the next-generation Lynx - the world’s fastest and most agile helicopter - with many additional outstanding characteristics.
Cdr Mark Taylor, WINFRA Team Leader, commented :
“The JOSLA project is a clear demonstration of what can be achieved in partnership with industry – it has been completed to a very good standard.
“This bodes well for the significant work that is ongoing with Debut across the Air Station to complete the early infrastructure requirements to meet the initial moves of personnel to accommodate the incoming Army Wildcat.
“I look forward to the continued Debut collaboration with WINFRA to achieve the challenging schedule in support of the wider Wildcat project.”
The project’s aim was to design and build a new Junior Officers’ accommodation block, providing 62 single living units, complete with all associated fixtures; fittings; furniture; equipment; ancillary rooms; spaces and service areas, that compliment the architecture of the existing Ward Room.
DIO and Debut Services, a Lend Lease joint venture company, successfully handed over the project without any defects and with minimal disruption to the function of the nearby Ward Room and day-to-day operations of the Air Station.
Mathew Richardson, DIO Project Manager, said:
“DIO’s priority is to support our Armed Forces by providing what they need to live, work, train and deploy. I feel a great sense of achievement to have led the JOSLA project team, whose professionalism and personal efforts have ensured successful delivery of this building into operation.
“DIO, Debut and Station partners have demonstrated what can be achieved by good teamwork and a collective drive to succeed. Delivering the first ‘WINFRA’ building, three months ahead of schedule, on budget and to a very high standard has set a benchmark for the remainder of the project.”
Graham Jeffery, Debut and Lend Lease Head of Defence Frameworks, stated:
“I am extremely proud of our team for their hard work and commitment, building upon experience gained in delivering the Single Living Accommodation Modernisation (SLAM) project, to successfully deliver this high profile project to the Royal Navy.
“The key to the success of this project was close collaboration and procuring proactive and reliable supply chain partners. Our suppliers shared our values, which enabled the project to complete with no Lost Time injuries or RIDDOR incidents - a fantastic achievement.”
Ends
Notes to Editors
1. The Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) plays a vital role in supporting our Armed Forces by building, maintaining and servicing what the men and women who serve our country need to live, work, train and deploy on operations.
2. We are working hard to become even better by becoming a world-class infrastructure delivery organisation over the next few years.DIO is part of theMinistry of Defence (MOD). It is responsible for managing and maintaining land and properties, as well as providing related support services, to meet the current and future needs of the MOD and personnel at home and abroad, and to support current operations.
3. Our work includes supporting operational units by providing and improving 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, and its heritage is protected, and to achieve its environmental goals.
About the RPC SW Prime Contract
4. The Regional Prime Contract South West (RPCSW) was awarded to Debut in March 2004 and was the second of five regional contracts to be let under the Prime Contracting initiative by Defence Estates. The contract covers estate management services for almost 60 establishments, which encompasses some 200 separate parcels of land, within the South West region. Within these sites there are approximately 9,000 assets that can vary from barrack blocks, galleys and offices to infrastructure, sports pitches and reservoirs.
About Debut Services
5. Debut Services is a Joint Venture company between Lend Lease and Babcock International Group and was formed in response to the MoD's Prime Contracting Initiative to implement the Egan and Latham principles and drive efficiency and best value across the defence estate. Debut benefits from the proven global strength of Lend Lease, one of the world's largest real estate solutions providers, and Babcock as the UK's leading engineering support services organisation and providers of property management services.
6. In addition to the Regional Prime Contract for the South West, Debut is also successfully managing the Functional Prime Contract to build, refurbish and maintain Single Living Accommodation for HM Armed Forces (Project SLAM).
7. Photo Captions - please credit ‘Debut Services’:
Mathew Richardson, DIO Project Manager and Cdr Terry Tyack, Executive Officer RNAS Yeovilton outside the new accommodation.
From left, Matthew Richardson; Lt Richard Holburt; James Lawrey; Grant Pomphrey, Lend Lease Construction Manager; Maj Toby Moore; Cdr Mark Taylor; Cdr TerryTyack; Liam Price, Lend Lease Senior Commercial Manager.
Further information:
Press enquiries to Tony Moran, Senior Communications Officer 0121 311 3879 or email tony.moran572@mod.uk
DIO website:www.gov.uk/dio
Twitter: @mod_dio
Read DIO’s blog: https://insidedio.blog.gov.uk/
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