The Catering, Retail and Leisure (CRL) facility, the first ‘proper’ building on the site of the new Defence College of Logistics, Policing and Administration (DCLPA) at Worthy Down, has been completed.
The new building includes four bars, a large dining room, kitchens and recreational and shopping/food court facilities.
The internal fit-out of the CRL will now start. Once up and running, the CRL will be the ‘social hub’ for the Junior Ranks’ village. It will be a central meeting place and leisure facility for permanent staff and visiting students.
The CRL is one of 26 buildings that Skanska, as main contractor, is delivering for the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO). The buildings being created to transform Worthy Down are a mix of technical training and classroom facilities and accommodation.
Peter Riches, DIO Project Manager for the project, said: “DIO supports service personnel by providing a fit-for-purpose estate and accommodation, so we’re pleased to be working with Skanska to deliver these facilities. The CRL will provide students from the college with a first-class, modern leisure and recreational facility that should make their overall experience of the college a pleasant one.”
Paul Weale, Project Director for Skanska, said: “We’re pleased that the CRL facility meets both the military and DIO’s expectations, in terms of its function and quality. This building has been created through strong collaboration between the DIO and Skanska and will meet the needs of personnel from all three services for many years to come.”
Once complete, the DCPLA site at Worthy Down will enable the Ministry of Defence (MOD) to train personnel more effectively and efficiently so that they can provide the best possible support for military operations. Moving the three services' training to one site also allows savings through economies of scale, shared resources and technology, enables the military personnel to learn from each other and allows the disposal of unnecessary sites.
Brigadier Steve Shirley, who will be in charge of the college when it opens, said: “The CRL building will provide both our students and staff with a modern meeting place where they can enjoy much-earned recreational time. The facilities are superb. I am very proud to be leading on such a prominent project that will bring modern, multi-purpose facilities to Worthy Down.”
The college will provide modern state-of the-art specialist training facilities and modern living accommodation for up to 2,000 students. The high-quality accommodation will be in a series of ‘villages’ – one for junior ranks, one for officers and one for senior non-commissioned officers (SNCOs). Trainees will also enjoy sports and recreation facilities, officer and SNCO messes, and supporting amenities. As personnel migrate to Worthy Down from Princes Royal Barracks, Deepcut, in Surrey, the Royal Logistics Corps Museum will also move to Worthy Down into a new exhibition space.