The Labour Government has today launched the new Defence Housing Strategy – the biggest renewal of Armed Forces family housing in more than half a century. This is a £9bn plan to end the Tory scandal of unfit forces housing and get Britain building on surplus Defence land – delivering new homes for veterans, military and civilian families across Britain.

Over 40,000 military homes will be upgraded across the country, including 3,000 in Scotland. This follows Labour’s deal to bring 36,000 forces family homes back into public ownership earlier this year. This ended a disastrous 1996 Tory privatisation of military housing which cost the taxpayer billions. Labour’s landmark buy-back has saved over £200 million per year in rent payments.

The plan delivers on Labour’s manifesto commitment to back Britain’s Armed Forces community after years of chronic underinvestment by the Conservatives left satisfaction with service accommodation at record lows – driving down military morale and causing many to leave the forces.

Douglas Alexander MP said:

“I am glad to see that this plan will benefit both the Armed Forces community and civilian families across Scotland, in the biggest renewal of military housing in a generation. Veterans and serving personnel will receive purchase priority on new homes, including some affordable homes. This is a perfect example of how this Government is delivering national renewal.”

Labour’s Defence Secretary, John Healey MP said:
“Our British forces personnel and our veterans fulfil the ultimate public service. Our nation is rightly proud of them. And the very least they deserve is a decent home.  

This new Strategy will embed a ‘Forces First’ approach that tells our forces, our veterans and their families: we are on your side.

We can’t fix forces housing overnight, but this effort is already underway and will now accelerate. By creating a specialist Defence Housing Service, backed by record investment in military accommodation, we will deliver better value for the taxpayer and fulfil our promise to provide homes fit for heroes.”