Construction starts on UK military accommodation at DM Kineton
Above: Representatives from DM Kineton, DIO, Algeco and VIVO at the groundbreaking event.
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The block, which will include 46 bedrooms for officers and Senior Non-Commissioned Officers based at the site, will be constructed by Algeco on behalf of VIVO, the Defence Infrastructure Organisation’s (DIO) built estate contractor.
Representatives from DM Kineton, DIO, Algeco and VIVO took part in the groundbreaking ceremony for the new building, which is expected to be finished next spring. Two of the bedrooms will be fully accessible and all are en-suite. The building also includes kitchenettes, communal spaces, laundry rooms, utility rooms and a cycle store. The building will have solar panels on the roof to supply some of the energy needed to run the block and new trees will be planted as part of landscaping work. The boot washing stations will use recycled water from the sinks and the building will be heated by air source heat pumps.
The construction process will be modular, using pre-built sections constructed in a factory, many of which have already been built. These are then transported to site and assembled in situ being externally finished and connected to services such as water and power, which are being extended to reach the new building. This method is faster than traditional construction and reduces the disruption on site.
Richard Walsh, DIO’s Project Delivery Manager, said: "It’s exciting to reach this milestone after all the hard work needed to prepare any project of this scale. The new building replaces aging accommodation which needed significant upgrade work. That would have been more expensive than constructing the new building so it was an easy choice to provide DM Kineton’s personnel with a brand-new building instead."
Katie Feighoney, DM Kineton Infrastructure Lead, said: "This project, which replaces some aging accommodation, is going to have such a huge impact on the lived experience for the service personnel based at DM Kineton.
"It’s excellent that we are able to utilise a new, innovative way of delivery to invest in the wellbeing of our service personnel and improve the resilience of our estate.
"Achieving this was no small task and none of it could have been possible without the collaborative approach of DE&S, DIO and VIVO."
Geoff Fawkes, Algeco UK Sales, Marketing and Work Winning Director, said: "We know what high standards are expected from the DIO for a contract of this nature and are delighted to be entrusted with this work. Our reputation is to provide an efficient high-quality, cost-effective build, completed in good time and on budget – I have absolute confidence this accommodation will be no different, and the manufacturing of the building at our factory is progressing extremely well."
Jerry Moloney, VIVO Defence Services Chief Executive Officer, said: "We are really proud to be playing our part in improving the lived experience of military personnel at DM Kineton by upgrading the accommodation offer there with modular building technology. This enables quick, scalable construction of high quality Single Living Acccommodation.
"A great deal of work has already gone into preparing for this project and I look forward to seeing this great new, more comfortable and more energy efficient accommodation in place once constructed."
The block utilises a standard DIO design and has an anticipated lifespan of at least 60 years. It also incorporates learning from previous similar projects, such as optimal positioning of furniture, to improve the experience of personnel.
Algeco will also construct a memorial garden on the site in tribute to fallen bomb disposal personnel, known as Ammunition Technical Officers (ATO). The garden will be designed in the shape of an ATO badge and it is hoped that it will be completed in time for Remembrance Sunday.
