The UK government plans to invest an additional £1.5 billion (approximately $2 billion USD) to improve living conditions for military personnel. The funding aims to address long-standing issues with the quality of service accommodation, which authorities believe will help with recruitment, retention, and morale among the armed forces.
According to Reuters, the investment will be part of the upcoming Strategic Defence Review (SDR), a ten-year plan to reform the UK’s defense capabilities. The SDR is expected to be published on Monday.
The funds will go toward urgent repairs and maintenance of existing military housing — including boiler repairs and tackling damp and mold — as well as the construction of new homes for service members and their families.
A parliamentary defense committee report in December described the current state of military accommodation as “shocking” and warned it could lead to personnel leaving the armed forces.
With this additional funding, the total investment in housing for military families and new accommodation for single service members is expected to exceed £7 billion by 2029.
