A significant improvement to accommodation for hundreds of personnel at RAF Lossiemouth has been completed, following the handover of Peterhead House, the seventh and final of a series of new Single Living Accommodation (SLA) blocks.
The seven blocks and accommodation hub, which provides 24-hour social areas for personnel living in the blocks, as well as office space for accommodation staff, were delivered by the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) on behalf of the RAF.
In total, the seven blocks contain 426 en-suite bedrooms and each block also includes laundry and kitchenette facilities, providing comfortable accommodation for RAF personnel.
The £60 million accommodation project was completed by main contractor Robertson Construction Northern, which has a local office in Elgin about six miles from the Moray base, supported by Tetra Tech as Technical Service Provider. As well as construction, it included demolition of existing buildings on the site, design, diversion of services and landscaping. Pedestrian access routes and 300 new car parking spaces were built and a number of EV charging points were installed.
The project is part of a £400 million multi-year upgrade of RAF Lossiemouth, which is approaching completion in the coming months. The Lossiemouth Development Programme has overseen significant upgrades to the station, which is the RAF’s only Main Operating Base in Scotland, to allow it to host the RAF’s new P8 Poseidon Maritime Patrol Aircraft as well as an additional Typhoon Squadron. This work has included resurfacing the runway, a new fire station, new technical buildings including a Typhoon engineering facility and squadron operations building, and upgrades to utilities and drainage across the site. The investment underlines the MOD’s commitment to its people, to the enduring capability of the base and to investing in the Moray region, providing a boost to the local economy.
All buildings were constructed using Modern Methods of Construction, which sees the blocks being constructed off-site in sections which are then transported and assembled on site. This improves the quality of the final product, minimises disruption on what is a busy operational air base, and speeds up the completion of the work. For the final five blocks, even the internal fit out was done off-site, meaning that when the modules were delivered, only minor internal works were needed.
Darren Keddie, DIO’s Project Manager said: “It’s fantastic to see the conclusion of several years of close work with our contractors and RAF colleagues on this element of the Lossiemouth Development Programme. We want to ensure that our dedicated RAF personnel have suitable and comfortable accommodation to go back to when the working day is done, and I hope and believe they will be happy with what we’ve provided here.”
Gp Capt Pete Beckett, Lossiemouth Development Programme Director, said: “This handover represents a significant milestone on the LDP journey, it is the final project to be delivered in support of P8 and Typhoon growth. Of all the works we have delivered this one, perhaps, means the most as it is directly focused on our people and making RAF Lossiemouth a better place to both live and work. My congratulations must go to Robertsons Construction Group, DIO Major Programmes and Projects, and Tetra Tech for the successful delivery of this key product; they should all be rightly proud of this quality product.”
Gp Capt Jim Lee, RAF Lossiemouth Station Commander, said: “The handover of the final single living accommodation block to RAF Lossiemouth represents a huge moment. It signals the end of a long, collaborative journey between the Station, Defence Infrastructure Organisation, Tetra Tech and, of course, our local contractor Robertsons, to improve the accommodation offer for our people. At every step of the Lossiemouth Development Programme journey, the Station has become more operationally effective, and a better place to live and work. I am deeply grateful to everyone who has contributed to this endeavour and delivered transformational changes to our Station that will endure for decades to come.”
Ian Phillips, Regional Managing Director, Robertson Construction Northern, said: “We have enjoyed a close working relationship with the DIO and RAF Lossiemouth over the last 25 years and during that time have delivered several strategic projects including married quarters, The Atlantic Building, and this new modern Single Living Accommodation.
“Together with Defence Infrastructure Organisation, we ensured that the accommodation and facilities meet user needs and priorities, whilst ensuring that any disruption to day-to-day activities at the base were kept to a minimum.
“Robertson is incredibly proud to play its part in supporting the defence sector and serving personnel.”
The final projects for completion under the Lossiemouth Development Project are accommodation and a hangar for the US Navy, which has a small contingent operating from RAF Lossiemouth, representing the close relationship of the UK and USA.
