Brigadier Pete Quaite OBE, the Army’s Head of Infrastructure Plans, was welcomed to ESS’ production facility in Hull to view the new modular Single Living Accommodation (SLA) prototype, which is set to be delivered across several defence sites.
Designed to improve living conditions, comfort and functionality for service personnel, the ESS SLA has the potential to enhance the ‘lived experience’ of Armed Forces personnel while providing faster build times and a lower carbon footprint. Each SLA room offers a double bed, ensuite, ample storage and workspace.
ESS have been appointed by the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) to deliver four schemes across sites at Weeton Barracks, Wattisham Airfield, and Kendrew Barracks A and B.
Totalling £44 million, works at Weeton Barracks, Wattisham Airfield and Kendrew Barracks A were all procured through the Army’s £1.4 billion SLA programme designed to modernise the Army estate, which aims to deliver 8,500 SLA bedspaces over the next 10 years.
Building off the success at Kendrew Barracks A, which saw the delivery of 62 modular units and 75 beds, ESS has also been directly awarded Kendrew Barracks B. It will see the delivery of an additional 78 modular units and 51 bedspaces, totalling £11 million.
Following the site visit in Hull, Brigadier Quaite and the team travelled down to Kendrew Barracks to visit the site where the SLA units will be delivered.
Brigadier Pete Quaite, Head of Infra Plans, Army Basing and Infrastructure said: “The ESS Single Living Accommodation prototype demonstrates the quality, comfort and efficiency that modular production can deliver – and it’s great to see these bedspaces already in construction at Kendrew Barracks.
“These Single Living Accommodation projects being undertaken by ESS are an excellent showcase of the ongoing investment which is improving living standards for our people across the Army estate.”
Darren Walker, SLA Sector Lead at ESS Modular, said: “It was a pleasure to welcome Brigadier Pete Quaite to visit the prototype in Hull, as well as the site at Kendrew Barracks. ESS are playing a key role in the Army’s mission to modernise its estate, providing an innovative next generation of modular living accommodation.
“Our SLA prototype will support the wellbeing and comfort of military personnel, whilst making a major contribution to the sustainable modernisation of the UK’s Defence estate.”
Brigadier Quaite’s predecessor and the then Head of Infrastructure Plans, Brigadier Richard Brown visited the site in June earlier this year alongside other representatives of the Army, DIO and the Defence School of Transport (DST) to also see the prototypes.
