The Defence Business Services (DBS) building in Thornton-Cleveleys, known as Tomlinson House, does not begin life as a single-purpose structure. Instead, it evolves from a cluster of existing facilities on the Norcross site, an area long associated with government offices. The organisation itself is formally established on 4 July 2011, when the Ministry of Defence merges several of its executive agencies into a single service provider. DBS provides a centralised hub for corporate services across the MOD, supporting serving personnel, veterans, their families and the department’s civil servants. From its base at Tomlinson House, Norcross, Lancashire, the facility handles human resources, finance, pension administration and casework that ensures continuity of support to the armed forces community. Its full address — Tomlinson House, Norcross, Thornton-Cleveleys, FY5 3WP — is one of the most significant MOD contact points outside London.
Within DBS, Veterans UK plays a key role in administering pensions, compensation schemes and welfare support for former service members. It maintains a direct presence at Tomlinson House, accessible through a dedicated freephone line and email address. The site also hosts specialist teams including the Finance Division and the Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre, the latter responsible for notifying families of casualties and providing urgent support in times of crisis. The choice of Norcross as a base reflects the continuity of central government functions in the area. For decades, the site has housed large office complexes serving a range of public sector organisations, providing employment to local communities around Blackpool, Fleetwood and the wider Fylde coast. The creation of DBS consolidates this legacy into a modern role, ensuring that administrative and welfare services for the armed forces are delivered from a single, coordinated platform.
Tomlinson House is therefore both a local landmark in Cleveleys and a national point of contact, connecting the town to the lives of thousands of military personnel and veterans across the United Kingdom and overseas.
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