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Defence Estates launches 10-year vision for military accommodation

News Release issued by the COI News Distribution Service on 21 August 2009

The MOD has said today that it aims to have all UK service families living in the highest standard of accommodation by 2020.

The aim is revealed in the Defence Estates (DE) 10 Year Accommodation Management Strategy which sets out plans for improving housing for both Service Families Accommodation (SFA) and Single Living Accommodation (SLA) over the next decade.

Defence Estates will now target its major upgrade programme on improving 4,000 houses in the worst condition (Standard 3 and 4) every year for the next three years. By March 2013 very few, if any, families should be living in houses that don’t meet the top two condition standards. By the same date, 50 percent of single living accommodation should also be at the top grade.

The MOD has made major investments in Single Living Accommodation over the past seven years, providing 35,000 trained military personnel with accommodation of the highest modern standard. By 2020, Defence Estates aims to provide 70 percent of SLA at the top level (Grade 1) and the remainder at Grade 2.

Key features of the strategy include: better communication of upgrade plans to military personnel and their families and tough action to reduce the proportion of accommodation that is lying empty.

Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence, Kevan Jones said:

“Our military personnel work extremely hard and both they and their families deserve accommodation of a high standard. This strategy builds on the principles set out by the Service Personnel Command Paper and shows that we have solid plans in place to improve accommodation for all our personnel.

Vice Admiral Tim Laurence, the Chief Executive of Defence Estates said:

“This strategy sets out how Service accommodation will be managed over the next 10 years. Given the unique factors surrounding the provision of military accommodation, and the current economic pressures, we have set ourselves some very challenging targets. But it is right that we should aim high. It is most important that we understand and adapt to the continually evolving requirements of the Armed Forces, working shoulder to shoulder with all three Services to ensure that their future accommodation demands are met as efficiently and cost-effectively as possible.”
Over the next 10 years the MOD plans to spend over £3 billion on new-build, upgraded and improved living accommodation for the Armed Forces. I

Within the last two years major upgrade and new build projects have included:

Single Living Accommodation: Catterick Garrison, Yorkshire; Alexander Barracks, Surrey; Bovington Camp, Dorset; RM Lympstone, Devon; Portsmouth Naval Base; Northolt, North London; RAF Leeming, Yorkshire; Ballykinlar Barracks, Thiepval Barracks and Kinnegar Logistic Base, Northern Ireland; Faslane Naval Base, Clyde; Germany; and Gibraltar.

Service Family Accommodation (SFA) projects have included: Aldershot, Hampshire; Dale Barracks, Chester; Invicta Park Barracks, Kent ; Blandford Garrison, Dorset ; Larkhill, Wiltshire; RAF Coningsby, Lincolnshire; Scotland; Germany; and Gibraltar.

Ends

Notes to Editors
1. Defence Estates is the Ministry of Defence organisation responsible for the management and maintenance of Service Families Accommodation in the UK.
2. The MOD maintains some 68,200 families’ homes and around 160,000 single living bed spaces across a number of sites in 16 countries. It also leases a further 1,175 substitute SFA from the commercial market. The overall requirement for both SFA and SLA will be updated by DE every six months.
3. The Service Personnel Command Paper covers many aspects of daily life: healthcare provision, education and skills, accommodation and employment opportunities. It includes around 40 specific improvements to enhance the level of support to Service Personnel, families and veterans.
4. Standard for condition relates to the physical condition of Service Family Accommodation properties. Grade for charge is used in assessing rent and includes factors such as nearness to amenities, environmental issues or noise in addition to condition.

Further information:
Press enquiries to Walter Scott on 07881 511444.
MOD website: http://www.mod.uk Defence Estates website: http://www.defence-estates.mod.uk

Contacts:

Ministry of Defence
NDS.MOD@coi.gsi.gov.uk