Defence Estates delivers new accommodation at Catterick Garrison
13 Sep 07
Army gunners and logisticians returning from post-deployment leave have moved into the last of 12 new blocks of single living accommodation to be completed at Marne Barracks, Catterick Garrison, in Yorkshire.
One of the common rooms at Marne Barracks
[Picture: MOD]
The new accommodation is part of a wider programme of improvements at the garrison, which also includes a brand new dining facility. A total of 648 'bedspaces' have now been delivered at Marne. They are currently occupied by junior ranks of 5 Regiment Royal Artillery and 8 Regiment Royal Logistic Corps. The blocks are organised into six-person flats with a common room and utility room. Each bedspace has an en-suite shower room, a walk-in store cupboard, a desk, telephone and internet connection, and a four-foot bed.
The new accommodation has been delivered by Defence Estates under Project SLAM, which from April 2003 delivered 8,000 new bedspaces under Phase 1, and will deliver a minimum of 3,800 under Phase 2. The modular building units were pre-assembled by Caledonian Building Systems, based near Newark.
The 11 hectare (27 acre) campus, built on part of the site of a disused airfield at the former RAF Catterick, is home to around 1,000 personnel and includes a leisure area with pool tables, quiet rooms, a hairdresser, a pay-as-you-dine facility and retail outlet.
Mess facilities at Marne Barracks
[Picture: MOD]
Before construction began, evidence of early settlements in the area came to light and a full study of the site was undertaken with the help of archaeologists from Durham University. Rather unexpectedly, this study uncovered the remains of a 4,500 year old Neolithic palisade, comprising two concentric elliptical rings surrounding a 170m enclosure. This rare historic feature did not come to light during the airfield's original construction between 1915 and 1942, and indeed it is still partly covered by the remaining runway.
"We are a busy regiment continually rotating on short-term operational tours, so it is vital that our soldiers return to a first-class standard of accommodation," said Captain Graham Markham, the quartermaster of 5 Regiment Royal Artillery.
"These new blocks are providing exactly that, and have had a really positive impact on morale. We rarely get complaints about SLAM - it really is a good thing for the Regiment."
Project SLAM forms part of the MOD's broader programme to improve its military accommodation. In 2006/07 MOD spent some £700m on housing and other living accommodation, and it anticipates spending £870m in 2007/08 and more than £5bn over the next decade.