NEW ACCOMMODATION BLOCK OPENS AT RAF BRIZE NORTON

A new accommodation block for military personnel, created as part of one of the largest building and refurbishment projects in the UK, has been officially opened at RAF Brize Norton.

The state-of-the-art, four storey Single Living Accommodation (SLA) block, which provides 312 bed spaces, was declared open by Air Vice-Marshal Sean Reynolds CBE DFC RAF who unveiled a plaque at a ceremony to mark the project’s completion.

The new facility, which includes the site’s 1,000th Junior Ranks bed space, was delivered by the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) in partnership with Debut Services Limited, a consortium led by Lend Lease and Babcock Support Services. The work formed part of Project SLAM, an extensive upgrade of bed spaces, common areas and ancillary facilities for Service personnel.

Howard Sims DIO’s SLAM Project Manager said: “ DIO’s priority is to support the Armed Forces by providing them with the facilities they need to live, work and train.

“I am delighted to have been involved with delivering this project on behalf of Project SLAM. I hope that the new occupants will enjoy their new accommodation, there has been a real sense of teamwork on this project and I would like to thank the Debut Services Limited team for all their hard work to bring the job in on-time and to a very high standard.”

The accommodation block will house Junior Rank personnel and forms part of Programme Future Brize which was established in 2009 to support the relocation of assets and personnel to Brize Norton from the former RAF Lyneham in Wiltshire.

The programme has involved the modernisation of existing facilities and the construction of new ones as the base prepares for the introduction of new aircraft such as the Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft and A400M, and sees the VC10, TriStar and C-130K aircraft go out of service.

Air Vice-Marshal Sean Reynolds said: “I am thrilled to officially declare the new accommodation block open.These facilities, which are the result of excellent joint working between Brize Norton and partner agencies, provide the high standard of living accommodation that our Service personnel deserve.”

Paul Dawson of Debut Service Limited said: “This is another fantastic building delivered by our dedicated team at Brize Norton and is representative of the great collaboration and long term relationship that has been developed between Debut Services Limited, DIO, our supply chain and the base over the past few years.

“We are all immensely proud of the team’s achievements and for delivering the 1000th bed space for the base’s future occupants.”