Single Living Accommodation Modernisation - Project SLAM
A Tri-service Project to upgrade progressively the worst Single Living Accommodation (SLA) to Grade 1 physical condition by 2012 |
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Project Aim: To upgrade progressively the worst SLA to Grade 1 physical condition by 2012 in order to provide Servicemen and women with the living environment to make them feel valued
Further information can be found on the Project SLAM pages on the Defence Estates website
- On 14 March 2001 the Secretary of State announced a major new investment programme to improve the Services SLA. £1 billion of new money was to be added to the £1 billion already available over the next 10 years. Half the total programme is to be delivered by a Single Prime Contract covering England and Wales - Project SLAM. The remainder will be delivered by a series of parallel projects.
- Project SLAM was formed immediately with a military Tri-Service Customer Focus Team (CFT) and an Integrated Project Team (IPT) from Defence Estates (DE), which is responsible for commercial delivery. The CFT is also responsible for monitoring progress on the parallel projects.
- The CFT works routinely to DCDS(Pers), the senior Defence Officer for personnel matters, but also to a Project Board, which is chaired by VCDS and includes the Assistant Chiefs of Staff. This illustrates the high level commitment to the project.
- The CFT is taking account of Servicemen’s and women’s views from its own research and the Customer Focus Groups (CFGs). The CFGs have already been consulted in preparing the detailed user requirement (the concept for individual rooms and the overall layout of SLA blocks) and they will be further consulted during the tender evaluation stage. This will include examination of plans and mockups prepared by Bidders.
- Z (Single room, en suite) – The future standard for all trained personnel. Project SLAM will construct 14,000 bed-spaces in the first 5 years with a similar quantity delivered by the parallel projects.
- Z(-) (Single room, shared ablutions) – Widely available, particularly at RAF Establishments. No more will be constructed after 2002 unless sites are so constrained that it is impossible to construct Z.
- Y (Generally a Flat with a 4-person room and 2 single rooms) – The standard adopted in the 1970s and widely found at Army, RM and RN Establishments. This type will disappear completely although some new Y SLA is being constructed at RN and RM Establishments by parallel projects.
- X Standard (4-12 person rooms) – This is being retained for recruit training or courses where the team building ethos is considered to be an important part of the course. SLAM will deliver 5,000 Bedspaces at 8 Training establishments in the first 5 years.
- The 4-Tier Grading system, which affects how much you pay, is based on Physical Condition and Environmental Factors (noise, banks, bus stops and NAAFIs).
- Project SLAM’s priority is to upgrade the "worst first" (SLA in Physical Condition Grade 3 or 4). You may be living in Grade 2 Physical Condition SLA but pay Grade 3 charges due to Environmental Factors. Unfortunately you are not at the top of the list for SLAM.
- With the wide introduction of Type Z MOD will be investigating a new charging structure based on the Type of room, or Mess Deck, as well as the Physical Condition and
- Factors affecting the Grading of SLA will be explored in greater detail in the next newsletter. Project SLAM aims to bring all Grade 3 & 4 up to Grade 1 en-suite standard by 2012. Why so long?
- There are tens of thousands of Bedspaces that require rebuilding or refurbishing across all three services. Such a major construction task is unprecedented since the end of WW2 and the capacity of the construction industry and establishments to cope is ultimately limited.
- Everything possible will be done to accelerate the programme.
For further information please go to Project SLAM pages on the Defence Estates website.
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