Plans have been announced by the Ministry of Defence to transform military housing into family homes.
Armed Forces families will benefit from new freedoms to keep pets, decorate and personalise their houses, and run businesses from home.
Strategic Defence Review
These reforms follow the Strategic Defence Review (SDR) commitment of more than £1.5 billion extra for forces family housing, delivering on the government’s “Plan for Change.”
A new Consumer Charter will cut the red tape and make it easier for families to own pets, decorate properties and run businesses from their homes.
The charter is part of the forthcoming Defence Housing Strategy, which will set out plans for a generational renewal of forces housing, helping renew the nation’s contract with those who serve.
Defence Secretary John Healey has pledged to put forces families at the heart of defence housing reform, vowing to “stop the rot” and raise standards across service accommodation nationwide.
He said: “Until now, military families faced a lengthy and bureaucratic approval process to own pets. From this week, they can keep up to two dogs, cats or smaller pets without needing permission — recognising the vital role pets play in family life and mental wellbeing.”
Minister for Veterans and People, Al Carns, said:“Recognising the unique demands of Service family life, it is also right that we make it easier for family members to run businesses from military housing.”
Improvements to housing are underpinned by an investment of more than £7 billion this n military accommodation, which includes an extra £1.5 billion through the Strategic Defence Review to support urgent repairs and the long-term renewal of military family homes across the UK.
Homes for heroes
This follows the Government’s landmark deal to bring back 36,000 military homes into public ownership, as part of the Prime Minister’s pledge to deliver homes fit for heroes.
Viewpoint
This smacks of a political stunt. According to my sources, forces personnel can already keep pets and decorate their homes, if they return it to the original state when they leave.
More perplexing is why giving Forces personnel a decent home environment hasn’t always been a priority.
