Net Carbon Accommodation Programme (NetCAP)

Project Details

• 40 carbon efficient accommodation blocks, providing more than 1,900 bed spaces, to be delivered as part of £45m Net Carbon Accommodation Programme (NetCAP) across the UK Defence Training Estate
• The programme prototype at Westdown Camp has an A-rated Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) just 12 points from achieving net zero, thanks to air source heat pumps and rooftop solar panels
• Using lessons learned from Westdown Camp, the second site in the programme (Nesscliff Training Area) has improved on this with an EPC rating of -5, meaning its three buildings generate power for the site, reducing electricity costs
• Accommodation delivered to sites following this (Castlemartin Training Area in Pembrokshire, Brunswick Training Camp in Surrey and further buildings at Westdown Camp) have achieved EPC ratings of -7, -9 and -10 respectively
• SMART building technology installed in each of the NetCAP buildings provides detailed information on their energy usage, feeding directly into subsequent building design and specifications
• All buildings have achieved Defence Related Environmental Assessment Methodology (DREAM) ‘Excellent’ ratings
• 33% reduction in embodied carbon between the Westdown Camp prototype and Nesscliff Training Area
• Total reduction in embodied carbon (tCO2) of some 130 tonnes
• The manufacture and installation of the single block at Westdown Camp took just 15 weeks
• Using lessons learned the timeline was reduced to just 13 weeks for three buildings at Nesscliff Training Area
• Work on the Westdown Camp prototype building recognised at MoD's 2020 Sanctuary Awards
• The NetCAP programme won 2021's Infrastructure Project of the Year at the prestigious UK National Go Awards

Soldiers using Westdown Camp and Nesscliff Training Areas are the first to benefit from new carbon efficient accommodation, delivered as part of the £45m Net Carbon Accommodation Programme (NetCAP).

Once complete, we will have installed 40 carbon efficient accommodation blocks and provided more than 1,900 bed spaces across the UK Defence Training Estate as part of NetCAP.

The prototype:

Working alongside the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) and Landmarc Support Services, Westdown Camp on Salisbury Plain was the first to receive the new accommodation. The modern facility has an A-rated Energy Performance Certificate (EPC), just 12 points from achieving net zero, thanks to air source pumps and rooftop solar panels. This prototype was improved on at the second site, Nesscliff Training Area in Shropshire, where three accommodation blocks boast an EPC rating of -5. This means the buildings generate power for the site, reducing electricity costs.

The buildings range in size as required, typically providing up to 46 bed-spaces each, which can be subdivided as needed. This means that different military units can be accommodated within the block together, while also improving the overall experience for personnel.

Reds10 are delivering all 40 accommodation blocks using offsite construction, building units in our factory before transporting to site.

Our work on the prototype building was recognised at the Ministry of Defence 2020 Sanctuary Awards.

Watch a video from the opening of the Westdown Camp prototype below:

Subsequent accommodation blocks:

Thanks to our expertise in modular construction, we were able to reduce the time needed for manufacture and installation from 15 weeks for one accommodation block at the Westdown Camp prototype to just 13 weeks for three blocks at Nesscliff Training Area.

Following Nesscliff Training Area, Castlemartin Training Area in Pembrokeshire, Brunswick Training Camp in Surrey and further buildings at Westdown Camp achieved EPC ratings of -7, -9 and -10 respectively.

The buildings are also equipped with SMART building technology, which optimises energy use and provides data for improvements in the design and specification of subsequent modular constructions in the programme. Lessons identified following the installation of the Westdown Camp block have not only meant that Reds10 delivered the Nesscliff buildings as net zero, but also allowed for 33% reduction of embodied carbon compared to Westdown Camp. So far, the total reduction in embodied carbon (tCO2) has some 130 tonnes.

Moreover, we were also able to reduce disruption to the working training camps and the project’s carbon footprint and support local economies by sourcing labour locally to each site, where needed.

The programme will continue through 2021 and early 2022 with the installation of more carbon efficient accommodation blocks on other training sites, some of which will be larger. These sites include Knook Camp on Salisbury Plain, Warcop in Cumbria and West Tofts and Wretham in Norfolk.

The programme won Infrastructure of the Year at the prestigious UK National Government Opportunities (GO) Awards in September 2021.

Lt Gen Richard Nugee, MOD Climate Change and Sustainability Lead, Opens accommodation in Nesscliff