New Homes for Military Families in Cyprus: First Phase Completed

The first of 138 new residences designated for armed forces personnel and their families has been successfully completed and handed over at Dhekelia Station in Cyprus. This marks a significant milestone in the ongoing development of modern housing for those who serve.

Completion of the Initial Phase

The initial phase of this ambitious project has seen the successful delivery of 46 new Service Family Accommodation (SFA) properties located within the Eastern Sovereign Base Area. These homes are part of the APOLLO programme, a collaborative effort between the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) and the Cyber and Specialist Operations Command (CSOC). The primary aim of this initiative is to bolster the resilience of critical UK defence assets in Cyprus, while also ensuring that the infrastructure aligns with contemporary building standards and facilitates modern working practices.

These 46 residences have been officially handed over to Lieutenant Colonel Tim Wildish, the Commander of Dhekelia Station, with families anticipated to move into their new homes shortly. The project is backed by a £48 million contract awarded in 2023 to the Lagan Iacovou Joint Venture, which will ultimately see the construction of a total of 138 three- and four-bedroom homes designed specifically for service personnel and their families in the region.

Seismic Resilience and Sustainable Design

The homes have been meticulously designed to suit the unique environmental conditions of Cyprus, incorporating features that enhance resilience against seismic activity. Given that Cyprus is situated in an area known for its earthquake risk, these safeguards are pivotal in the design and construction of the properties.

In addition to safety features, the residences have been tailored for the comfort of service families, integrating cooling systems to help mitigate the high summer temperatures typical of the region. Sustainability has also been a core consideration, with installations such as solar panels, air source heat pumps, and electric vehicle charging points aimed at reducing energy consumption and lowering household expenses.

Voices from the Project Team

Simon Oxley, the DIO Project Manager, expressed enthusiasm about the completion of the initial homes, stating, “Seeing the first families move into these homes will be a significant milestone for everyone involved in this project. These modern, energy-efficient properties will provide high-quality accommodation for Service personnel and their families for many years to come.”

Oxley further highlighted the strength of the collaboration among DIO, CSOC, and industry partners, noting that this accomplishment is a vital step in the APOLLO programme, which aims to make long-term investments across the Defence estate in Cyprus, ultimately enhancing the experience of service families and the resilience of key Defence infrastructure.

Acknowledgements and Future Prospects

Tracey Fuoco, CSOC Deputy Head Infra Delivery, expressed her satisfaction with the progress made, acknowledging the hard work of the project team that led to the successful handover of these new homes. “I am very pleased the project has now reached the milestone of handing over this tranche of new homes. I thank all those involved for their continued commitment to delivering the new homes for Service families in Dhekelia,” she remarked.

Luke Carolan, Project Director for Lagan Iacovou JV, conveyed his pride in delivering quality homes for British Forces personnel and their families. He stated, “This achievement reflects the outstanding teamwork and dedication of everyone involved in the project, including all our site teams, subcontractors, and supply chain partners. I’d like to thank the DIO and CSOC client teams, as well as the Station staff, for their collaborative and professional approach throughout the project so far.”

The APOLLO programme is a decade-long investment initiative focused on modernising significant portions of the British Forces Cyprus estate, including operational infrastructure and Service Family Accommodation across various locations such as Episkopi, Akrotiri, Dhekelia, and Ayios Nikolaos.