PriDE manages Defence Estates’ South East Regional Prime Contract (SE RPC). Valued at around £380m, the SE RPC is one of five regional prime contracts currently in place in the UK.

February 2009

Cavalry given a new lease of life!

The oldest barracks still in use on the MOD estate – Cavalry Barracks, Hounslow – is on the up, after a recent programme of refurbishment. Opened in 1793, Cavalry Barracks is now home to some 600 military personnel in the 2nd Battalion Royal Regiment Fusiliers.

The barracks has experienced a rollercoaster ride over the years; it was branded the worst housing on the military estate in the 1960s, identified to close and more recently featuring in the national press as a ‘hellhole’. But now, PriDE and Defence Estates have completed a five-part programme of renovation culminating in the £1.6M refurbishment of Building 16.

Building 16
A Grade Two Listed building, constructed in 1860, Building 16 is believed to be the first ever Married Quarters flats in the British Army. Following a fire, the building has not been used as an accommodation block for some 20 years.

In 2006 DE was tasked with providing a solution to the need for additional Single Living Accommodation (SLA) at Cavalry Barracks. Due to the uncertain future of the site, the original plan was to provide temporary accommodation units, but after investigating cost options and following the success of a female accommodation conversion in Building 22, it was realised that it would be more cost effective to refurbish the derelict building.

Lakehouse Contractors Ltd were brought in by PriDE to start the refurbishment work on site in April 2008, and the works were completed just 10 months later, on 13 February 2009.

What did the work involve?
Both internally and externally there was significant work that needed to be done to make the building fit for purpose:

1. All brickwork was completely cleaned down and re-pointed, correcting defective pointing

2. Repairing and replacing defective roof timbers

3. Fixing existing slates and adding new slates to totally refurbish the roof

4. Extensive repairs to the balconies

5. Provision of additional external emergency escape staircases, sympathetic to the original building

6. Complete internal decorations and fittings.

Internally, Building 16 has been totally redecorated with en-suite bathrooms being fitted. A completely new electrical system, including new incoming mains supply, has been provided, with T5 lighting and appropriate controllers installed throughout. The new gas fired heating and hot water system uses high efficiency condensing boilers. The building grading has also been raised from wind and weather proof scoring of C6.0D to an outstanding A8.9A.

The improved building comprises: 24 en-suite bed spaces, five additional bathrooms, five kitchenettes, six laundry rooms and associated storage areas and utility spaces. It was officially handed over to the customer on 16 February 2009 with DE Chief Executive, Vice Admiral Tim Laurence on hand to cut the ribbon.

The Quartermaster on site, Major Mick McCarthy, said: “We’re really pleased with the new look building; it is by far the best accommodation available on site. This will mean that soldiers currently housed in below scale accommodation will be able to move into more spatial and better equipped facilities”.