The UK government has announced a £9 billion, decade-long plan to modernise and rebuild more than 40,000 military homes across the country, the UK Defence Journal understands.
The initiative, described as a “generational renewal” of service accommodation, marks the largest investment in Armed Forces housing in over 50 years.
Under the new Defence Housing Strategy, properties in Scotland and across the UK will receive upgrades, with around 14,000 homes undergoing major refurbishment or replacement. The programme will also create a new Defence Housing Service to manage properties directly, keeping them in public ownership while prioritising the needs of service families.
Defence Secretary John Healey said the strategy aims to put “forces first” by improving living standards and boosting morale. “Our British forces personnel and our veterans fulfil the ultimate public service. The very least they deserve is a decent home,” he said. “We can’t fix forces housing overnight, but this effort is already underway and will now accelerate.”
In Scotland, 3,078 service family homes will benefit from upgrades, including 221 in Argyll and Bute already under refurbishment. The programme follows the government’s recent Annington Homes deal, which returned 36,000 properties to public ownership and is expected to save the taxpayer £600,000 a day.
The strategy also proposes using surplus defence land to build over 100,000 new homes for both military and civilian families. A Defence Development Fund will recycle proceeds from land sales into future housing projects, supporting wider efforts to “get Britain building” and drive economic growth.
Personnel and veterans will be given priority access to new housing built on former defence sites, while eligibility for service housing will expand to include long-term partners and non-resident parents. A new rental support scheme will also help service members access private accommodation while additional homes are delivered.
Healey said the programme reflects “a clear break from years of chronic underinvestment” and demonstrates that defence investment can strengthen both national security and the economy.
“Annington Homes deal, which returned 36,000 properties to public ownership and is expected to save the taxpayer £600,000 a day”. proof if ever it were needed, that sub-contracting always costs more, and never works.
Tom, I wonder what is happening to the other properties bought in 1996 by Annington Homes. 36,000 is not enough for our armed forces.
Is 36k not enough ? How much of a % of the military is married v single living in block
In defence of the current government (hear me out, guys), they do seem to be pushing for more infrastructure and quality of life changes for personnel in the armed forces, which will make a difference long-term with regards to retention.
If we could see the same with regards to equipment, that’d be great. AFAIK, the only orders we’ve seen so far have been those six iLauncher systems for Sky Sabre (and the accompanying support vehicles), the bridging contract with Germany, and the decision to swap 12 of the F-35Bs for F-35As.
DIP, nominally scheduled for release by end of CY, may provide some insight/guidance re equipment acquisition. Rats…er… politicians, rapidly exhausting time and space to E&E. 😉
Hopefully it will help with armed forces recruitment also, as poor housing must have an impact on recruitment and more importantly retention.
The last government not investing at all in national infrastructure will cause issues for decades to come. Such as hospitals / schools falling down. Over-reliance on international energy market rather than investing in domestic renewable that is less prone to shock pricing. Etc etc. nice to see some actual longer term planning.
And 53 extra Jackal E vehicles.
With all these new homes being built, where are the corresponding doctors surgeries, roads, sewage farms, vets, hospitals, bus garages, railways, trams, and all the other infrastructure?
That especially applies to surplus( read cut ) forces land which is often in the middle of nowhere far from existing amenities.
Apart from that, yes it’s certainly positive, though the cynic in me still reads the same old tired key words inserted like “forces first” “generational renewal” and “get Britain building.” He missed out “at pace” and “agile” and no need for never ending “informing decisions” here it seems.
Daniele, I’ve just seen Healey on Sunday’s Laura Kuenssberg show, claiming that MoD has too much land and needs to sell some of it off. However, much land/barracks/RAF stations has been sold off since the end of the Cold War. I am surprised he thinks there is still a surplus.
Hi Graham.
Indeed, I could list dozens. The latest cull was about 5 back, when MoD listed 43 more sites.
Guess what, many have been cancelled as moving the units in them in itself costs money!
I’m against selling off estate myself, despite it’s cost.
The upgraded M3 contract is a swap like for like so not extra capability👍
Jacko, M3 EVO is still a new order by this Government. The point was how little kit has been ordered in the last 16 months.
‘Quality of life changes’, spoken like a true GenZ gamer.
I too like the focus on making life easier for the forces. I just hope they try to make life easier in the event of war by getting sufficient kit ready in time.
Wording aside, his main point is valid. We have a professional army and retention is as critical as having kit.
Give them thier due the currant government has put lots in service/spares and bases/housing. Little in buying or replacing gifted or old kit though. Seems as if the MOD saving up all year to have big spend at years end, may be a massive paper clip order or may some new IFV’s and SPG’s? Drone defence? Long range GBAD? Landrover replacements? full 432/BULLdog replacement?. Most likely some more fancy projects, a few open to industry days, meetings, a wish list and some long winded statements. And the deluded CDS saying all will be well by 2030. After they found an 88 extra knackerd not working C2 tanks.
I doubt there will be money for a new IFV, at least for a while; and long range GBAD would need expensive foreign missiles. Be interested to understand the potential of the CAMM version being developed with Poland. It does look as though firm plans are in place for protected patrol vehicles (Nurol Makina in Lemington Spa) and FV432 replacement ( Babcock and Patria 6×6). I can’t see the point of announcing that you’ve found another 88 CR2 unless you plan to make them serviceable. Boxer is the declared SPG solution.
Umm. I think there is no money for any thing hence why the MOD is doing a lot statements talking etc but no orders. It’s a smoke screen as the increase in defence spending seems have not really happened it’s a paper exercise to keep the Yanks happy. RCH 155 still no orders even though its in service in Ukraine and on order for Germany. I do feel its simply down to lack of money the nation is skint. May be some orders before new year but nothing too big. Long winded statements will do with rehashed news .
Agreed. Though I also read that Foxhound may remain and be updated and,or expanded in number.
Where did read that? Would make sense. Though
Hi Martin. I read lots of sources to try and stay ahead of events. All online or onTwitter.
Any good links would be nice. K read as much as I can but a lot seems staled at thd moment and it’s weird waiting fame to see what is finally decided. Time is running out and the Army can not and should not continue in state it is in. Orders would help in retention of bored soldiers with no kit to work on or train with.
Paul Martin has been told repeatedly that we’re buying Boxer 155. He’s just decided he wants to talk the UK down as much as he can and wallow in his own misery. You can point out he’s wrong as much as you like, he’ll just put his fingers in his ears and claim nothing happening so he can shit talk us more.
where is the order for boxers? show me the link, not talking any thing down i just do not share your lack of reality. The Army can get by on wish full thinking and may be. Show me the order for RCH 155. An intent to co develop is not an order as hard for you under stand that as it is. Any kit will have be made, deliverted trialed, crews and Reme trained, spares stocked etc etc. Not just turn up by majic. Get a grip. I care deeply bout the Army and empty words and what if will not fix the mess its in.
I mean I hope they stop farting by about and just order 1000 Patria CAVs to replace Stormer , Bulldog and whatever other roles are needed.
I actually think they will, and also keep and update existing Foxhounds for the medium segment.
When, that is the question.
A major issue is they haven’t ordered any kit for so long, everything is ancient and obsolete at the same time.
With next to no money to replace it.
We’ve got no SPG left virtually, the Bulldogs are a million years old with no firm replacement and the Land Rovers etc are all decrepit, amongst other issues.
I hope they just keep the production facilities open now with smaller but consistent orders that are sustainable.
Yes, sadly. There are programs to replace all of those, they just need to get on and decide, and order.
At least Ajax is progressing, and Boxer underway. The CVRTs were also ancient, not as old as 432s granted.
Seems Ajax is progressing. 148 in advice based on the numbers they published last week.
Only 21 Boxers though. Wonder if this will accelerate now or stay glacial.
The latter, probably.
We are where we are.
Unfortunately yes mate.
I hope Patria has a faster build rate if/when its ordered.
Things are moving. Babcock have acquired an area of land for a manufacturing site near Sherford – for Patria? Nurol Makina UK have acquired a site near Leamington Spa. The contents of the NMSUK web site suggest that this family of vehicles will replace the Cougar family and could even compete for some Patria / APC roles?
Seems to me they want stuff but either no one wants say yes or there simply is not the money and all this statements are a smoke screen to hide that fact. And most stories are re hash of old news dressed up to look like like new. There does seem to be a very deep problem with kit orders that should have been made by now . Excuse after excuse about why nothing is every ordered
There is certainly truth in that HMG love to make a new announcement of the already announced, F35 batch 2 being a typical example.
I know it’s frustrating, we just have to wait until the Army formally releases what’s what. I’ve a fair idea of the way the orbat is headed and what kits being looked at.
Your insight in to that would be a great help but also you may know things others are not yet meant to know. I know kit will be ordered but it does seems delay and distract are words of today. Any thing ordered is at least 2 years out from being in service at the very best. Mean while the Army is running on emokty with light kit dressed up to look good and gide a massive empty heavy kit space.. although with the treat if drones etc may be lots of heavy kit is not the way ahead ?
Lol, you give me far too much credit. I don’t know much of what others are not yet meant to know! I know of some places, and certain orbat structures and units, that is all. I have no deepthroat sources, only what i study with my own eyes.
No special insight at all. It’s all out there if you look.
On kit, I know no more than what is released and what is rumoured.
i like modesty, fair one
Martin, we have 213 CR2 tanks on the active list. We have long had about 70-odd (seems like its actually now been formally declared as 75) in storage in MoD Ashchurch on the inactive list. [Clearly 98 tanks have been completely scrapped and disposed of as 386 MBTs were delivered by Industry back in the day.]
Rather pathetic for the Government to choose to now declare the all-up figure publically as some members of the public (and some politicians, maybe) might think all 288 are usable assets.
Seem a statement to show we have more tanks than we can deply or use. Not sure whyit was made as it changes nothing. A MOD whaffle of words going no where. And yes some will see it as an over night incress in the tank fleet when is just a distraction made make some feel better.
I know. Typical.
This is old news and has been announced months ago; Labour taking a leaf out of the Cons book.
However, the question I posited when this was first announced was circa 182,000 bods in uk Armed forces, that’s almost 50k on every body, or in the north of England a new house each, including the land. Stand by for damming Defence Select Cmtte report on waste in 10 years time.
£9bn for 40,000 houses is £225K per house. As they aren’t having to buy the land, that could be a pretty nice house.
It’s a lot of money and we know when Govts spend lots of money, it generally gets spent badly, when the MoD spend lots of money…
Jon, much of the money is for modernisation of existing housing stock. They are not building 40,000 new houses! You seem to be assuming they are building any new houses on MoD land – that may not be the case. I am fairly sure that a lot of quarters I lived in were not on MoD-owned land, as they were some distance from the barracks I worked in.
Daniele made a valid point and I’ll add a caveat – we took BAOR back onto UK soil – albeit we’ve downsized from 155,000 ish bods to circa 70,000, we have built new homes and new barracks – singlies arguably do not need a house, but where is the societal infrastructure around the MoD estate?
£9Bn is a whopping amount of money and I would suggest, is not going to be well spent and when spent, will be in the wrong places and without supporting infrastructure.