The investment will be spent on the 1,000 homes in worst repair and on developing new homes on surplus land
The government has announced it is set to spend a further £1.5bn on improving accommodation for the UK Armed Forces.
The investment will be confirmed as part of the launch of the Government’s upcoming Strategic Defence Review (SDR), with the money intended to tackle what the government describes as “the poor state of forces housing”.
This includes urgent repairs and maintenance to 1,000 homes in the worst state, alongside development of new forces housing on surplus Ministry of Defence land.
Defence secretary John Healey said: “Our Armed Forces personnel make extraordinary sacrifices to serve our country.
“For too long, many military families have lived in sub-standard homes, but this government is taking decisive action to fix the dire state of military accommodation and ensure that our heroes and their loved ones live in the homes they deserve.”
He added: ‘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.”
The additional funding means more than £7bn will be spent on renewal of Armed Forces accommodation during this Parliament.
>> See also: ‘Significant’ investment in military homes planned after MOD repurchases £6bn estate
Spending will be guided by the forthcoming Defence Housing Strategy and a new Consumer Charter to strengthen housing standards for forces families.
In December, the MoD announced it had bought back 36,347 military homes which comprise the married quarters estate for £6bn. These homes had been sold by the government in 1996.
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