A brand new 72-bedroom accommodation block has officially opened at St George’s Barracks in Bicester, providing enhanced living spaces for junior rank troops. The energy-efficient building, designed with sustainability in mind, features solar panels and air source heat pumps, ensuring it runs as efficiently as possible.
The opening of the accommodation is part of a wider £1.4 billion, 10-year Ministry of Defence (MoD) programme aimed at improving the living conditions of service personnel across the UK.
A Modern Home for Troops
The new facility offers high-quality living spaces, including 72 single bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms, communal kitchen and dining areas, utility rooms, and furnished common spaces. The building was designed using feedback from soldiers to ensure it meets their specific needs and provides a comfortable, practical environment for everyday living.
Lt Col Gerard Hennigan, the Bicester Garrison Commander, expressed his satisfaction with the new addition, saying,
“It’s excellent to see the result of such a significant investment. The quality of the bedrooms, common areas, and kitchen facilities is impressive, and we look forward to moving soldiers into their new homes in the coming weeks.”
Commitment to Improving Troops’ Living Standards
Brigadier Peter Quaite, head of infrastructure plans at the British Army’s Basing and Infrastructure Division, emphasised the importance of the new facility in improving living standards for troops, noting,
“This accommodation will provide a better standard of living space for our people. It demonstrates the impressive level of housing we are committed to delivering for our service personnel.”
The new block is just one part of a broader effort to upgrade housing across the MoD estate, with over 1,000 new bed spaces currently under construction as part of the ongoing Single Living Accommodation project. These upgrades are expected to provide service members with more modern, comfortable, and energy-efficient living environments.
