The government has revealed that armed forces personnel and veterans will have priority access to housing developments on Ministry of Defence land. With plans to construct up to 100,000 properties on repurposed defence sites, Defence Secretary John Healey will introduce a ‘Forces First’ initiative at the Labour Party Conference.
During a visit to a shipyard in Merseyside, Healey highlighted the importance of addressing the poor housing conditions faced by military personnel and their families, citing it as a significant factor contributing to low morale and recruitment challenges. He emphasized the need to improve housing standards for the armed forces.
Under the new scheme, Labour aims to expand homeownership opportunities for personnel and veterans, ensuring that high-quality affordable homes are accessible to them. The government has committed to investing £1.5 billion by 2029 to enhance the quality of military housing.
Healey is expected to address delegates in Liverpool, emphasizing the efforts to revamp Armed Forces housing that was neglected by previous administrations. The government plans to accelerate housing construction on Defence land to provide new homes for both service members and civilians nationwide.
Recent statistics reveal a decline in military recruitment, with more personnel leaving than joining the regular forces in recent years. Healey made these statements while visiting the Cammell Laird shipyard in Birkenhead, celebrating a significant warship export deal that will support hundreds of jobs in the region.
The Ministry of Defence has allocated nearly £5 billion to businesses in the north-west, sustaining over 20,000 jobs. The Defence Secretary highlighted the economic benefits of the warship export deal with Norway, which will secure jobs at the shipyard and contribute substantially to the local economy.
