The Government has declared that military personnel and veterans will have priority access to housing on Ministry of Defence land. Up to 100,000 properties are set to be developed on repurposed defence sites, with Defence Secretary John Healey introducing a ‘Forces First’ strategy at the Labour Party Conference.
Addressing concerns about inadequate housing for military personnel and their families, Healey emphasized the critical role of housing in the recruitment and retention crisis affecting the armed forces. He expressed dissatisfaction with the current state of military homes, stating that top-quality affordable housing will be made available to personnel and veterans as part of Labour’s commitment to enhancing home ownership aspirations. The Government has allocated £1.5 billion until 2029 to improve military housing standards.
During his speech in Liverpool, Healey criticized the Conservatives for neglecting Armed Forces housing, leading to low morale and recruitment challenges. He highlighted Labour’s efforts to revitalize military housing and emphasized plans to accelerate home construction on Defence land for both service members and civilians nationwide.
Recent statistics revealed a significant decline in military personnel numbers under the Tories, with more individuals leaving than joining the regular forces. Healey made these remarks during his visit to the Cammell Laird shipyard in Birkenhead, following the signing of a substantial warship export deal with Norway that will support hundreds of jobs in Merseyside.
The Ministry of Defence has invested nearly £5 billion in businesses in the north-west, sustaining over 20,000 jobs. Healey praised the recent warship deal with Norway, highlighting the positive impact on the British economy and local job market at the Cammell Laird shipyard. The deal is expected to secure at least 150 existing jobs and create numerous additional opportunities in the future.