The government has confirmed new investment in armed forces housing as part of its latest Strategic Defence Review (SDR), which outlines plans to improve accommodation and unlock housing potential on surplus Ministry of Defence (MoD) land.
The review commits an additional £1.5bn to the delivery of armed forces housing. This brings total investment in new and upgraded accommodation to more than £7bn over the course of the current parliament. The government described this as a ‘generational renewal’ of housing for service members.
Much of the planned investment will support the construction of new single-living units and upgrades to family housing. A forthcoming Defence Housing Strategy will provide the framework for delivery, underpinned by a new Consumer Charter. The charter aims to raise living standards for service families and forms part of a wider effort to address long-standing housing issues.
Initial work will focus on 1,000 homes identified as being in the worst condition. These properties will receive immediate repairs under the strategy. Planned improvements include essential maintenance work such as fixing boilers, roofs, damp and mould, and longstanding concerns for many service families. The MoD said it recognises the poor condition of many homes and intends to tackle the issue nationwide.
Defence Secretary John Healey said: “We are investing and acting fast, to fix forces housing and renew the nation’s contract with those who serve and deliver on our Plan for Change.”
Beyond housing, the SDR outlines a broader defence agenda. The government intends to raise defence spending to 3% of GDP, pursue a NATO-focused strategy, and support the construction of new submarines and munitions factories.
