New Alexander Barracks accommodation helps recruits 'be the best'

The last of the blocks, handed over to the Army just before Christmas, provides accommodation on three-storeys for sixty of Pirbright’s Senior Non-Commissioned Officer (SNCO) training staff who put the new recruits through their paces.

The new block has drying rooms, utility/washing rooms, and snack preparation facilities on each floor. The £62m project involved the demolition of old accommodation, replacing it with 1,628 first-class SLA bed spaces.

Alexander Barracks is home to the Army Training Regiment and provides Phase 1 training for new Army recruits. This new accommodation will provide a significant improvement to the lives of those stationed at Alexandra Barracks as Lieutenant Colonel Pat Cloney, from Army Training Regiment, Pirbright, explained:

"Over the past three years we have witnessed an unprecedented amount of change in the replacement of old 1960 buildings with purpose built recruit living accommodation. The final stage of this project was a rebuild of accommodation for members of the Officers' and Sergeants' Mess.

"The response from those moving into the new accommodation has been very positive with livers-in praising the high standard of workmanship; in particular the en-suite facilities, larger room sizes and provision of storage facilities.

"It has also been noted that suggestions and comments made on previous projects have been actioned with the SLAM team providing near perfect accommodation. The SLAM team have worked hard to provide a facility that meets all the requirements of modern day living."

Defence Estates’ Project Focal Point, Ray Would, added:

"The delivery of the bedspaces at Pirbright is part of Project SLAM's continuing drive to modernise SLA throughout the UK. To date 13,800 bedspaces have been delivered. Another 2,850 are in construction and a further 3,240 are in design in the current phase."

Mike Hillier, Project Manager for DE’s contractor, Debut Services Ltd, said:

"Since 2003, we have delivered more than 1600 bed spaces at Pirbright. In response to the Army’s needs we pulled out all the stops to finish this last block a month ahead of schedule so that recruits who had been in temporary accommodation, could get in before Christmas."

Warrant Officer A Batchelor, Squadron Sergeant Major, 96 (Duke of Gloucester) Squadron Royal Logistic Corps said of the new block:

"In my 20 years of being in the Army, this is by far the best accommodation that I have ever had the privilege to stay in, with my own kitchen and washing facilities.

"It has nearly all the creature comforts that I would have in my own house. This is especially good when the day has been a tough one and you need your own personal space to relax."

Providing Service personnel and their families with the living accommodation they deserve is a top priority for the Ministry of Defence. By 2020 the Department aims to have 70% of single living accommodation at the top standard for condition.

Since 2003, 38,000 new or improved SLA bed-spaces have been delivered with, subject to funding, a further 19,000 planned by 2013. DE has also allocated an additional £10 million for further minor SLA improvements this year (FY 2009/10). Worldwide the MOD is responsible for 155,000 SLA bed-spaces.