Sailors have been able to take a look at the type of new single-living accommodation rooms which they can expect to find at HMS Nelson in the near future.

The first mock-up of the hotel-style room was visited by the new Second Sea Lord, Admiral James Burnell-Nugent, who also asked some Nelson ratings what they thought of the facilities.

The en-suite rooms will feature soft neutral blue or green colour schemes for curtains and beds, carpets and quality textiles, with burgundy chairs, pastel paints, double glazing and subtle lighting.

Showers will have screens instead of curtains, there will be heated towel rails and versatile drawers, shelves, cupboards and desk units.

Increased storage for kit has been made a priority, and there is ongoing consultation over the provision of movable storage for those deployed on ships where there is no space to take all possessions.

Rooms will have access to various communications systems – there will be TV and telephone points, and occupiers will be able to enter their own telephone service contract, and satellite and cable TV will also be made available.

The new accommodation will replace dormitory-style facilities in tower blocks which is now in the process of being demolished.

Admiral Burnell-Nugent was impressed by the attention to detail – no dust-traps on top of wardrobes or on skirtings, making the rooms easier to maintain being one such example.

Command Warrant Officer WO Eddie Seaborne remarked that it was important that personnel ensure the mess-deck ethos is not lost; he hoped they would use the single rooms for study and privacy but make full use of communal areas.

Cdr Ken MacKenzie, the Royal Navy’s single living accommodation (SLAM) project sponsor, said: “The new single living accommodation is a fantastic improvement and has been reflected in the reactions of the people it is for – they are very enthusiastic about what is soon to be built.

“After consultation we have devised accommodation that is hopefully going to be rooms that ratings will be pleased to cal their ‘home from home’. We have made a huge effort in designing somewhere which is as unlike typical MOD institutionalised property as possible.

“We would like sailors to be proud of their new homes and be able to take friends and family back to show them. Military single living accommodation has, up to now, failed to keep up with standards of multiple living in places like colleges.”

WWTR Sonia Ellison (22) said: “I live in the old RN accommodation in Britannia Block in HMS Nelson where we each share with five others. There’s no privacy or personal storage space.

“This new place is light years ahead – homely, attractive and spacious. You could study or relax in peace and quiet. I would move in immediately if I could.”

OM Jason Newell (19) said: “This is brilliant – so much better than the old tower block I live in. The best thing would be not to have to share any more. It will be a godsend.”

The HMS Nelson project is being handled by the Warship Support Agency, with Balfour Beatty acting as prime contractor. The firm will design and build 584 single en-suite rooms for junior rates in four four-storey blocks at a cost of £25 million, and then manage the facilities for ten years under a further £14 million contract.

Separate projects are also under way at RN air station Culdrose at Helston in Cornwall, HMS Raleigh at Torpoint in Cornwall (for senior rates), Britannia Royal Naval College at Dartmouth in Devon (for junior and senior rates and officers), HMS Excellent at Portsmouth, HMS Collingwood in Fareham and the Royal Marines Commando bases at Chivenor, Taunton, Plymouth and Poole.

The total number of new bedrooms for the first two years rebuild for the Royal navy is around 2,000.