ADCW and their supplier Rollalong have celebrated completion of the final soldiers’ bedroom for the Army Basing Programme (ABP) on Salisbury Plain.

An event on 10 December 2018 at the Rollalong factory in Wimborne, Dorset, showcased the completion of the final modular unit, which will be installed in Tidworth in February 2019. Mark Duddy, Army Basing Programme Director, and WO1 Paul Carney, Command Sergeant Major for Headquarters 3rd (United Kingdom) Division, were invited to assist in its fit-out and completion.

Paul Dempster, Managing Director ADCW, who also attended the event, said:

“I am delighted that we have reached this significant milestone in the delivery of the Army Basing Programme, which would not have been possible without the successful partnership we have developed with the team at Rollalong, whose commitment to deliver right first time has to be commended. The excellent working relationships we have with all members of our supply chain, both on and off site, are benefitting the local economy and ensure that we deliver the high-quality, purpose-built accommodation required to support military capability and make soldiers’ lives better.”

Around 2,400 single bed spaces have now been created for soldiers relocating under the ABP to garrisons across Salisbury Plain Training Area in summer 2019. The Programme has resulted in the creation of an extra 112 jobs at Rollalong, where staff have worked more than 300,000 factory hours to manufacture the modular units required to cater for troops relocating next year.

Off-site modular accommodation is efficient, cost effective and involves high-spec methods of technical construction. The manufacturing process over the past three years has required a staggering 6.3 million nails, alongside 74,000 sheets of Oriented Strand Board, 37,000 sheets of steel and 192,000 sheets of plasterboard. On completion, each module has been transported fifty miles by lorry to the garrisons, where they are installed on site by Rollalong’s expert team working with ADCW.

Steve Chivers, Managing Director of Rollalong, said:

“We are very proud to have played a key role in the ABP, to ensure we deliver the high-quality accommodation soldiers need and deserve.  Every project we deliver is a team effort and our success is recognition to the tremendous work that the entire team at Rollalong puts in to deliver the best service to our clients.  It is also testament to the excellent collaborative working partnership between Rollalong and Aspire, which helps us ensure that our products are designed and manufactured to meet the specific requirements of the MOD and soldiers, and that the delivery programme stays on track.”

At the event, which was attended by a film crew from Forces TV, Mark and WO1 Carney craned the last bathroom pod into position on the floorplate of the final module. They were then tasked with fixing ancon channels to the external walls by drill.

Mark said:

“I have really enjoyed being part of the event today. It was a joy to meet all those involved in the delivery of these single living accommodation units that allow our Service personnel to live in first-class facilities. The delivery of 2,400 bed spaces since November 2016 is a significant achievement for the Army Basing Programme to benefit our soldiers on Salisbury Plain.”