Britain announced on Saturday it will allocate an additional £1.5 billion ($2 billion) to improve housing for the armed forces, aiming to boost recruitment, retention, and morale by addressing long-standing concerns over poor living conditions.
The funding will be part of the upcoming Strategic Defence Review (SDR), a comprehensive 10-year plan to modernize the UK’s defence capabilities, set to be published on Monday.
According to the government, the money will be used for urgent repairs and maintenance in service family accommodations, such as fixing faulty boilers and tackling persistent issues like damp and mould as well as developing new housing.
The move follows criticism from Parliament’s Defence Committee, which in a December report described conditions in some military homes as shocking and warned that the substandard accommodation could drive personnel to leave the armed forces.
“For too long, many military families have lived in sub-standard homes,” said Defence Secretary John Healey. “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.”
With the additional funds, total spending on service, family housing, and new single-living accommodation is set to exceed £7 billion through 2029, the government added.
The investment forms part of a broader effort to revamp Britain’s defence infrastructure, support its armed forces, and address long and neglected quality of life issues for military personnel.
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