UK to modernized thousands of military homes
(MENAFN) The UK government has unveiled a $11.5 billion initiative to refurbish, modernize, or rebuild thousands of military homes over the next ten years, aiming to upgrade defence housing for service families.
Under the Ministry of Defence’s new strategy, almost all of the 47,700 military homes will undergo improvements. Defence Secretary John Healey described the scheme as the "biggest renewal of Armed Forces housing in more than 50 years," noting it responds to long-standing complaints about poor accommodation conditions.
Reports indicate that in 2022, many service personnel and their families had to endure damp, mouldy homes without adequate heating. A parliamentary defence committee previously found that two-thirds of military family homes required "extensive refurbishment or rebuilding" to meet modern living standards.
The new plan will see service family accommodation upgraded with modern kitchens, bathrooms, and heating systems. Roughly 14,000 homes will either undergo "substantial refurbishment" or be completely replaced.
As part of the broader housing strategy, already backed by $5.1 billion in funding, the government has identified surplus Ministry of Defence land that could be used to construct 100,000 additional homes for both civilian and military families.
Healey stated: "This is a new chapter - a decisive break from decades of underinvestment, with a building programme to back Britain's military families and drive economic growth across the country."
Previous reports highlighted the urgency of the problem. Almost three years ago, families living in military housing in Sandhurst reported enduring days without heating, saying, "We're at breaking point and something has to change. The system is broken." Subsequent reviews indicated that issues with damp and mould persisted despite attempts to address them, with one report noting, "It is shocking that until a policy change in 2022, it was considered acceptable to house families in properties known to have damp and mould."
The Ministry of Defence last year announced the acquisition of 36,347 military homes from Annington Homes for nearly $7.7 billion, reversing a 1996 privatisation deal. The move is expected to save millions in rent and maintenance, with the savings redirected toward improving military housing.
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