Modular is key to supporting the growing UK defence estate

The UK defence sector is at a pivotal moment. The government has committed to increase defence spending to a level the country hasn’t seen before. Although the £9 billion 10-year Defence Housing Strategy announced in 2025 is well underway, this new round of investment may mean further infrastructure upgrades are on the horizon.

Defence infrastructure is the backbone of the military, from residential accommodation to welfare facilities, it provides the essential facilities they need to function effectively. Although a necessity, providing these essential facilities comes with its own challenges. Defence accommodation needs to be delivered at speed to meet demanding project timescales without compromising on quality, and also have as minimal disruption to a live military site as possible so that daily onsite operations can run as usual.

Modular facilities provide a solution that addresses these challenges, delivering permanent military accommodation and operational facilities quickly, without compromising on quality or functionality.

Delivering high quality buildings

Whether its office accommodation, headquarters buildings or welfare facilities, defence estates need buildings that are fit for purpose from day one. Modular construction delivers long lasting, high quality facilities manufactured in controlled factory conditions, which provides defence estates with robust, functional buildings with the benefit of shorter programme times than traditional construction methods.

A great example of this is the accommodation wing we provided for RAF Coningsby as part of the MoD’s Single Living Accommodation Modernisation (SLAM) programme. The buildings were installed quickly to meet the urgent accommodation needs of aircraft technicians from overseas, while still maintaining the high construction standards expected of permanent defence accommodation. Manufacturing in a controlled environment results in consistently high standard buildings that can be used for a number of generations, so ideally suited for any long-term defence infrastructure projects.

Responding to urgent needs

Evolving defence needs mean infrastructure projects often have to be actioned quickly, and sometimes facilities are needed at short notice with tight delivery timescales. Modular construction enables permanent facilities to be manufactured offsite while site preparation takes place, dramatically reducing construction programmes and allowing personnel to occupy buildings sooner than with traditional construction methods.

All military sites operate under strict security protocols, which further limits site access and construction activity. As the majority of modular building work is completed offsite, fewer operatives need access to secure sites, which in turn reduces disruption to day-to-day operations while streamlining delivery. Cranage of the modules can be done in a matter of days, fitting around the schedule of a live military site, and being able to be used almost immediately by personnel.

Bolstering green credentials

The government’s 2050 net zero target is approaching fast, meaning that any public sector building is under scrutiny for its sustainability credentials.

Offsite construction reduces vehicle movements and uses materials more efficiently than traditional construction methods, helping to reduce embodied carbon. Our modules are manufactured with zero waste to landfill and are designed to meet the high performance standards expected of permanent defence facilities, supporting both sustainability objectives and long-term operational value.

Read more about our work in the defence sector or contact our team today.