SUSTAINABLE ACCOMMODATION became a reality at Royal Air Force Coningsby as the new Elizabeth block was officially opened at the historic Lincolnshire Station.
The most sustainably built accommodation block built so far in the MoD, the Elizabeth block will house 94 RAF personnel over four storeys. The Air Command Infrastructure Major Projects Office delivered the project, in conjunction with the Defence Infrastructure Organisation.
Squadron Leader Tony Clayton is the Project Sponsor for the new building. He said:
“The challenge with any build like this is to make the lived experience as comfortable as possible for the people who are going to stay here, at the same time reduce the environmental impact to the lowest possible level, and make sure it stays within budget.”
Looking unlike any other accommodation block in the MoD, the new building is break from tradition. Designed to reduce energy consumption, the Elizabeth block has been fitted with solar panels and mechanical ventilation and heat recovery to minimise heat loss and provide better comfort. The new building also has a rainwater harvesting system, which supplies filtered and treated water to the toilet cisterns.
Construction began in May 2022 and continued at an impressive pace. A key consideration was to reduce RAF Coningsby’s energy costs by providing an efficient and fit-for-purpose building. The Elizabeth block was designed to achieve net zero carbon building status. Some of the energy strategies applied included a move away from fossil fuels, high efficiency LED lighting, modular bathroom pods and other technologies.
Angela Nyamuranga is the project manager for the Defence Infrastructure Organisation. She said:
“The construction of this new block demonstrates collaboration with station personnel at RAF Coningsby, regional delivery, and industry partners, Galliford Try and Arcadis. We are proud to have played an essential role in providing the new residents with a high quality, sustainable, home from home”.
The Elizabeth block was officially opened on March 13th by Group Captain Paul (Pablo) O’Grady.
Group Captain O’Grady, Station Commander at RAF Coningsby, said:
“Firstly, a huge thank you to our partners at HQ Air Infrastructure, and in the Defence Infrastructure Organisation, for bringing this project to life. It is a matter of great pride that RAF Coningsby was chosen as the first site for a building of this kind.
For me, the Elizabeth block shows how we are meeting our obligations to our junior ranks in providing modern, high-quality accommodation. But we are also meeting our obligations to the environment with a building that embraces sustainable technologies.”
