General Atomics

DIO awards RAF Digby SLA contract to Galliford Try and Arcadis

The Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) has awarded a £65 million contract for new Single Living Accommodation (SLA) at RAF Digby in Lincolnshire, to Galliford Try and Arcadis.



Image courtesy DIO

RAF Digby is the RAF’s oldest station, established in 1918 but is now operated by Strategic Command. The contract was awarded to Galliford Try with Arcadis as a Technical Support Provider and will see four new blocks of bedrooms created for junior ranks.

Each block contains 69 single occupancy bedrooms with en-suites and the blocks also include kitchenettes, drying rooms, laundry rooms and social spaces.  

The buildings have been designed to be as carbon efficient as possible as part of MoD and wider Government push towards net zero. They will benefit from solar panels and be heated using air source heat pumps. Other energy efficiency measures include provision for a system to recover heat from the waste water in the showers, temperature-controlled heating zones, energy efficient LED lighting and electric car charging points.  

The contract value also includes provision of car parking, street lighting and landscaped outdoor communal areas. The contractors will be using local suppliers and labour as much as possible to benefit the local economy.
 
John Weatherby, DIO’s Principal Project Manager, said: “It’s fantastic to have reached this important milestone in our goal to transform the accommodation provision at RAF Digby with some high-quality new rooms for junior ranks serving at the station. We look forward to working with Galliford Try on the designs as we prepare for the start of construction in the coming months.”  
 
Wing Commander Neil Hallett, Station Commander RAF Digby, said: “This is an eagerly anticipated announcement welcomed by the Service men and women stationed here. Having modern single living accommodation will significantly improve the lived experience and there is buzz of excitement across the station following this contract award.  

“This investment into Royal Air Force Digby is a clear demonstration by the MoD of its intent to enhance the accommodation offer to our personnel while making buildings more sustainable.”   
 
Bill Hocking, Chief Executive of Galliford Try, said: “We are delighted to be continuing our partnership with the DIO to deliver this much-needed facility for those serving at RAF Digby. We have a strong track record in providing this kind of facility to the armed forces and look forward to ensuring the personnel receive the high-quality, living spaces they deserve.”
 
Construction is expected to start in March.

Related

Record-breaking August rounds off Stansted’s busiest ever summer
Stansted Terminal Security entrance.
Record-breaking August rounds off Stansted’s busiest ever summer
Whilst welcoming over 100,000 passengers on every day of August, London Stansted Airport achieved its busiest ever day, month and summer on record.
Aerospace

16 Sep 2026

UK MOD accelerates low-cost drone turbojet development with Alloyed
Image: MOD Crown Copyright
UK MOD accelerates low-cost drone turbojet development with Alloyed
A new UK-developed turbojet engine has reached flight-ready status in less than seven months, highlighting the potential of advanced manufacturing to accelerate defence propulsion.
Aerospace Defence Test

16 Sep 2026

Airlines should cover full climate cost if Heathrow expands, CCC says
London Heathrow
Airlines should cover full climate cost if Heathrow expands, CCC says
The Climate Change Committee says Heathrow expansion is not compatible with UK Net Zero targets. It calls for aviation to pay the cost of removing CO2.
Aerospace

16 Sep 2026

Scottish defence sector faces skills shortfall and ‘debanking’ concerns, MPs warn
The UK's first Type 26 frigate, HMS Glasgow (F88), is seen under construction at BAE Systems' shipyard in Govan, Scotland, on 29 June 2021. Image: MOD Crown Copyright/Jack Eckersley
Scottish defence sector faces skills shortfall and ‘debanking’ concerns, MPs warn
A new report from the Scottish Affairs Committee has highlighted skills shortages, supply chain barriers and the ongoing ‘debanking’ of defence SMEs as challenges to Scotland’s ability to capitalise on increased UK defence investment.
Defence

16 Sep 2026

Defence and industry open collaboration hub at RAF Wyton
FAIRFAX Collaboration Hub at RAF Wyton
Defence and industry open collaboration hub at RAF Wyton
The new FAIRFAX Collaboration Hub has been opened at RAF Wyton by defence and industry partners, marking a key step in its growth as the UK's intelligence hub.
General Dynamics and ARX pitch “land drone” wingmen for UK Ajax fleet
ARX Hector UGV with radar
General Dynamics and ARX pitch “land drone” wingmen for UK Ajax fleet
ARX Robotics is set to offer its Hector optionally crewed vehicle as a wingman UGV for the British Army's delayed Ajax armoured fighting vehicle.
Defence

16 Sep 2026

Harwell-based Open Cosmos secures €300m to scale sovereign satellite production
Open Cosmos
Harwell-based Open Cosmos secures €300m to scale sovereign satellite production
Harwell-based Open Cosmos has raised €300m to expand satellite manufacturing and space-based intelligence as the UK strengthens sovereign capability.
Defence Space

16 Sep 2026

AccelerComm awarded ESA regenerative 5G satellite network contract
5G NTN
AccelerComm awarded ESA regenerative 5G satellite network contract
The European Space Agency (ESA) has selected AccelerComm to help build one of Europe's first regenerative 5G base stations that directly run onboard satellites, shifting away from today's 'bent-pipe' satellites that simply relay signals back to the ground.
Member News Space

15 Sep 2026

The Drone Age: What does the UK need to get right?
ADS Advance magazine - the drone age- is out today
The Drone Age: What does the UK need to get right?
Leading experts examine where UK drone capability is advancing, where gaps remain and what industry and government need to fix next.
UK recruits hundreds of officers in £500 billion money laundering crackdown
Home Office
UK recruits hundreds of officers in £500 billion money laundering crackdown
Following National Crime Agency (NCA) estimates that over £100 billion is laundered through UK or UK corporate structures each year, 500 officers will target money laundering networks linked to organised crime, building on Operation Destabilise.
Security

16 Sep 2026

Defence and industry open collaboration hub at RAF Wyton
FAIRFAX Collaboration Hub at RAF Wyton
Defence and industry open collaboration hub at RAF Wyton
The new FAIRFAX Collaboration Hub has been opened at RAF Wyton by defence and industry partners, marking a key step in its growth as the UK's intelligence hub.
UK defence tech firms struggle to turn successful trials into contracts
British Army
UK defence tech firms struggle to turn successful trials into contracts
A Barclays report finds strong confidence among UK defence tech firms but warns procurement and finance barriers are making it harder for companies to scale.
Defence Security

15 Sep 2026