Willerby lodges become centrepiece of new Royal Navy welfare facility

Leading holiday home manufacturer Willerby has played a key role in a project to enhance the wellbeing of personnel at one of Europe’s largest naval bases.

Four of Willerby’s luxury holiday lodges have become the centrepiece of a new wellbeing facility in the Royal Navy’s HM Naval Base at Devonport in Plymouth, which will be used to allow service people and their families to spend quality time together.

The homes are part of a brand new village-style development within HMS Drake, the main naval barracks serving HMNB Devonport, which has a workforce of over 2,500 Royal Navy personnel and civilians.

The development includes a children’s play park alongside four of Willerby’s luxury New Holland lodges, providing a relaxing, safe and family friendly space, where families can come together and make memories, without the cost or time implications of travelling out of the area to a private holiday park or hotel.

Spearheaded by the former Naval Base Commander, Brigadier Mike Tanner, and retired naval officer, Henry Merewether, the project is a shining example of collaboration with suppliers and contractors coming together to bring the initial idea and concept to life, and then to move at speed to deliver a solution.

After serving as a Commissioned Officer in the Royal Navy for almost 35 years, Henry retired from the armed forces to become Group Head of Security at Parkdean Resorts, the UK’s largest holiday park operator, in 2019.

Drawing on his connections and knowledge of the holiday homes industry, Henry teamed up with his long-term friend and former Royal Marines colleague, Brigadier Mike Tanner, to utilise an under-used area within the barracks to create a new facility for the benefit of serving personnel and their families.

As the idea began to come to life, the pair were able to secure funding from the Greenwich Hospital, the Crown body responsible for funding support for the Royal Navy community, and the project was given the green light.

Once funding was secured, Henry and Mike called in the assistance of experienced architect, Malcolm Gigg of ARA Architecture, to head up the project and draw up plans to rejuvenate the space.

Henry said Willerby was the obvious choice to provide the lodges for the development, providing the “wow factor” and luxurious retreat they wanted to deliver.

Henry said: “When I was doing my research, I looked at a few other holiday home manufacturers but Willerby just had that wow factor that set them apart.

“I visited Willerby’s showground to tour some of the lodges and they were all beautifully presented, but when I walked into the New Holland, I immediately knew this was the one for us.

“We want it to feel like a luxurious, relaxing retreat and for people to walk in and think ‘wow’, and there’s no doubt they will be impressed. It demonstrates the value we place in our people.”

The lodges will be offered to service personnel based at HMNB Devonport, enabling them to welcome family, or take a respite break, boosting mental wellbeing and morale.

Henry added: “This whole project has been about looking after our people and putting a smile on their faces.

“Many personnel spend long periods of time away from their parents, spouses or children and, although there is visitor accommodation at the barracks, it’s very basic and isn’t really set up to accommodate families who want to spend quality time together. That means people often end up booking expensive accommodation, or have to travel long distances to visit their family.

“The new lodges offer an alternative option, allowing personnel to spend quality time with family in a clean, comfortable and relaxed environment.

“This is hugely beneficial for the wellbeing of colleagues. We also know that, when staff feel happy, cared for and valued, they’re more likely to stay, which helps to increase retention.

“We’re delighted with the outcome of the project and we’re hopeful this will be the first of other initiatives at Royal Navy bases across the country.”

The welfare facility was officially opened by the current Naval Base Commander, Commodore Jane Roe, who invited Henry and Lead Architect, Malcom Gigg, to cut the ribbon during a special ceremony attended by representatives of suppliers and contractors involved in the project, including Willerby’s CEO Peter Munk and Head of Group Accounts, Gemma Pudsey.

The lodges, which can each sleep up to eight people, have been named after Royal Navy ships and submarines which have historically been based at Devonport – HMS Ajax, HMS Excalibur, HMS Iron Duke and HMS Urchin.

Peter Munk said: “We’re delighted to have played a small part in making this fantastic initiative come to fruition. It really was a fantastic show of collaboration from several suppliers and contractors who have all come together to give back to the Navy personnel and their families.

“We were thrilled to attend the launch and see our New Holland lodges in pride of place at the heart of the naval base. The development looks fantastic and is testament to the hard work of Henry, Mike, the team at ARA Architecture, and everyone who has worked tirelessly to deliver this project.”