The Armada Project at HMS Drake, Devonport, is a PFI project that provides single living accommodation for 1650 personnel of all ranks, with a full range of supporting works and maintenance services. Falcon, the MoD Private Sector Partner, has completed new building work and refurbishment of other buildings and is now responsible for the maintenance, operation and provision of services in the barracks for a period of 25 years.
HMS Drake is centred on a fine group of Victorian buildings that are listed and have been upgraded where required. More recent buildings, which were in a poor state of repair and could not be easily converted for single living accommodation, have been demolished. These have been replaced with three new buildings that are respectful to their listed neighbours yet meet the stated requirements for modern, flexible, high quality accommodation in single rooms with en-suite facilities.
Our proposals also included the conversion of one listed building, the Drill Shed, into the Senior Rates Mess and centralisation of retail and welfare facilities into two buildings adjacent to the main entrance.