Choosing temporary military accommodation for defence and security sites

For military planners, temporary accommodation is rarely a simple bed-space exercise. It has to support operational timelines, site security, personnel welfare, logistical control and the realities of working within a defined military estate or secure project environment.

At Bunkabin, we have supplied portable accommodation to the military for many reasons over the years, including refurbishment, temporary duty, training exercises, mobilisation, infrastructure works or short-term increases in personnel at bases.

Here, we discuss what to consider when choosing temporary military accommodation for defence and security sites, including insight from our work supporting the Royal Navy at Rosyth Dockyard.

PLANNING AROUND OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS

The starting point for any temporary accommodation plan should be the operational requirement. Military planners need to consider how many personnel need to be accommodated, how long the accommodation will be needed, what level of welfare provision is required and how the units will interact with the wider site.

Some requirements may cover short periods, such as a temporary duty assignment or a defined phase of works. Others may run for several months, particularly where refurbishment, construction or infrastructure activity has displaced existing military housing or reduced available bed spaces.

At Rosyth Dockyard, MOD Caledonia needed additional accommodation during the construction of the Royal Navy’s aircraft carriers HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales. The Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) identified a requirement for 302 additional beds for sailors, alongside welfare provision to support personnel on site. Bunkabin supplied 315 units in total, including 302 bespoke sleeper units and 13 welfare units, completing the project in four phases.

ALLOWING FOR SPEED WITHOUT LOSING CONTROL

Defence and security projects often work to fixed deadlines. When accommodation is needed quickly, the challenge is to achieve rapid deployment without compromising layout, safety, welfare or security.

Temporary accommodation units should be planned early enough to account for groundworks, access, utilities, delivery routes and site phasing. If power, water and waste connections are required, these should be arranged before units arrive wherever possible. This reduces disruption and helps accommodation become operational in line with the wider programme.

The Rosyth project shows the importance of combining speed with proper control. We stockpiled units at its Oldham manufacturing site before phased delivery began, then installed the accommodation in a precise layout across a 315-unit site. The project was completed two months ahead of schedule and within budget, giving the Royal Navy the required accommodation before the deadline.

KEEPING PERSONNEL CLOSE TO THE SITE

Where personnel are working on or around a secure site, location is a key planning factor. Off-base housing, hotels and furnished properties may be suitable in some instances, but they can create additional movement, transport requirements and security considerations.

Keeping accommodation on or near the duty station can reduce unnecessary travel, support punctuality and help maintain cohesion between personnel. It can also make welfare, recreation and daily routines easier to manage.

This was one of the reasons portable cabins were selected at Rosyth. The DIO considered several options and concluded that self-contained portable cabins were quicker and more cost-effective than constructing new units from scratch, while also avoiding the need to rent private accommodation that would have scattered crew members across different locations.

MATCHING THE ACCOMMODATION TO PERSONNEL NEEDS

Temporary military accommodation must be matched to the people using it. The requirements for service personnel, contractors, officers, ratings, visiting teams or support staff can vary depending on the assignment, duration and site conditions.

A small unit may be enough for a limited short-term requirement. Larger projects may need accommodation units in various sizes, supported by diners, showers and toilets. Planners should also consider whether the accommodation needs to support single personnel, group living arrangements, family members, or personnel temporarily displaced from existing military housing.

Bunkabin’s sleeper units are designed to give personnel a practical place to rest, with facilities that support privacy, comfort and day-to-day use. At Rosyth, the accommodation was provided for both sailors and officers, with the aim of giving personnel a modern, comfortable and practical living environment in one location.

CONSIDERING SECURITY, ACCESS AND SITE LAYOUT

Security is central to temporary military accommodation planning. Units should be positioned so they support the wider security plan, rather than creating additional access points, blind spots or unnecessary personnel movement.

Military planners should consider how personnel will move between accommodation, welfare areas, operational zones, site offices and transport points. Vehicle access, pedestrian routes, lighting, perimeter control and separation from restricted areas should all be reviewed before units are installed.

Planners will naturally want to work with a partner that has the ability to provide the precision placement expected of the military. At Rosyth, the Royal Navy required the units to be positioned in straight, uniform lines across a large site. Bunkabin installed the units with millimetre-level precision, reflecting the standards expected on a defence project of that scale.

MANAGING COSTS AGAINST THE FULL ACCOMMODATION REQUIREMENT

Temporary lodging expenses should be assessed against the full requirement, not just the headline cost of a room or unit. Hotels, off base lodging and private accommodation can create additional costs through transport, parking, meals, utilities, administration and reduced control over location.

For larger groups, these costs can increase quickly. There is also the practical issue of availability, especially when a requirement involves hundreds of personnel or a fixed time frame.

Portable accommodation offers a cost effective solution by bringing personnel together in one planned location. For Rosyth, Bunkabin’s self-contained portable cabins offered a faster and more cost-effective alternative to new construction or private accommodation, while allowing personnel to live together in a way that reflected shipboard company life.

PLANNING UTILITIES, SERVICES AND GROUNDWORKS

Before temporary accommodation is installed, planners need to make sure the site can support it. This includes ground conditions, access for delivery vehicles, power, water, waste management and any wider services required.

For military and security sites, this planning also needs to align with site protocols, restricted areas, access control and programme sequencing. Groundworks and service connections should be coordinated early so accommodation can be brought into use without unnecessary delay.

During the Rosyth project, land preparation included electricity, water and waste management for the Bunkabin units. This allowed the phased delivery and installation programme to proceed efficiently and helped the accommodation become operational ahead of the required deadline.

WHY CHOOSE BUNKABIN FOR TEMPORARY MILITARY ACCOMMODATION

Bunkabin has direct experience supporting military accommodation requirements, including large-scale defence projects with strict timelines, precise layout requirements and high expectations for personnel comfort.

Our range includes sleeper units, welfare units, shower blocks, toilet blocks and diners, allowing planners to create accommodation that suits the number of personnel, the site layout and the expected time frame. Units can be hired for short periods, temporary duty requirements, refurbishment works or longer operational projects.

As the manufacturer of our own units, Bunkabin has control over the quality and availability of its accommodation. This helped support the Rosyth Dockyard project, where Bunkabin delivered the required bed spaces ahead of schedule and within budget.

ARRANGING TEMPORARY MILITARY ACCOMMODATION WITH BUNKABIN

Choosing temporary military accommodation for defence and security sites requires careful planning. Military planners need to consider personnel numbers, time frame, welfare facilities, site security, utilities, access, cost and the wider operational impact of where accommodation is located.

Bunkabin supplies temporary accommodation for military, defence and security requirements across the UK. Whether you need accommodation for service personnel, contractors, refurbishment teams or temporary operational support, our units can help keep people close to where they are needed while supporting comfort, control and efficiency.

If you need temporary military accommodation for a defence or security site, get in touch with Bunkabin to discuss suitable hire options, availability and delivery to your location.