The Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) has appointed Laing O’Rourke and five other contractors to a new alliance to build Single Living Accommodation (SLA) for the Armed Forces.

The companies will be awarded contracts through an existing Crown Commercial Services framework. Each company submitted a tender to be considered for the new alliance, which was rigorously assessed on a range of requirements by DIO and its technical support provider, Arcadis.

The alliance, which will run for six years, will see 16,000 new bedspaces built as part of a wider MOD plan to build or refurbish 40,000 SLA bedspaces over ten years. The work will improve the lived experience for service personnel occupying those rooms.

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The appointment is part of DIO's new Programmatic Approach for SLA, which is intended to improve the delivery of new accommodation by finding efficiencies and improving value for money.

A library of SLA designs has been created, providing a common base design with variations and flexibility to adapt according to the needs of the site and its personnel, such as the number of rooms required.

While the SLA design catalogue allows for different construction methods, providing flexibility for all accommodation requirements, the SLA Programmatic Approach focuses on Modern Methods of Construction with new blocks built off-site in sections. This should improve the speed of manufacture and reduce the time spent on site, minimising disruption. The designs were created with sustainability in mind and will contribute to the Government’s Net Zero Carbon strategy.