Work begins on 138 new service personnel homes in Cyprus
Above: Representatives from the MOD and construction companies at the groundbreaking ceremony.
Crown Copyright MoD 2024
The project will see the three-and four-bedroom homes built for personnel and their families in the East Sovereign Base Area of the island. As Cyprus sits within an area of seismic activity, the homes will feature safeguards against earthquakes built into their design.
The Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) and UK Strategic Command, working together, awarded a contract worth £48 million to the Lagan Iacovou Joint Venture (JV) in November of last year.
The start of construction was marked with a groundbreaking ceremony, which was attended by representatives from DIO, UK Strategic Command, British Forces Cyprus and the Lagan Iacovou JV.
The homes are being built as part of the APOLLO Programme, delivered by DIO and UK Strategic Command, which will enhance the resilience of critical UK military assets in Cyprus, while meeting modern building regulations and facilitating modern ways of working.
Sustainability has been an important part of the design process, with solar panels, air source heat pumps and electric vehicle charging points being major features of the new houses, which are expected to be completed in 2027.
Asif Huq, Overseas Delivery Assistant Head for DIO, said: "We are excited to see work beginning on this project, which will provide new sustainable homes for Service personnel and their families in Cyprus.
"By providing new, modern and sustainable accommodation, we are showing our commitment to providing Armed Forces personnel with what they need to live, work, train and deploy."
Tracey Fuoco, APOLLO Programme Director for UK Strategic Command, said: "The delivery of 138 new properties in Dhekelia represents a major step towards the APOLLO Programme’s aim of delivering improved accommodation for British military personnel and their families in Cyprus.
"I’m aware of the hard work that the whole project team has done to ensure that we can deliver this project in such a way as to minimise the impact for the people living and working at Dhekelia Station, and I would like to express my thanks to the project team for this.
"I look forward to seeing the project progressing over the months ahead and the new homes for Service families being delivered."
Steve Turner, Managing Director of Lagan Aviation & Infrastructure, and George Iacovou, Managing Director of the Iacovou Group, speaking on behalf of the JV, said: "As a joint venture, the Lagan Iacovou JV are looking forward to putting our long-standing experience in delivering seismically compliant buildings to good use as we start construction on these new homes at Dhekelia.
"Both Lagan Aviation & Infrastructure Ltd and Iacovo Brothers (Construction) Ltd have proven experience in delivering high-quality modern buildings that will allow personnel in Cyprus to live and work safely. We are delighted to be using that experience to deliver these 138 new houses."
The 10-year APOLLO Programme will see modernisation across much of the British Forces Cyprus and Sovereign Base Area administration infrastructure and service family accommodation across Episkopi, Akrotiri, Dhekelia and Ayios Nikolaos.
