DIO Delivers Somerset Military Accommodation Ahead Of Time

The Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) has delivered new living accommodation for junior officers sta-tioned 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 Accommo-dation (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 de-livering 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.”