Military families in South West Norfolk to benefit from major home improvement scheme

Armed forces families in 826 homes across South West Norfolk are expected see a major boost from a Government plan to improve poor-quality military housing.

Published this week, the new Defence Housing Strategy will see the Government invest £9billion over the next decade to deliver homes fit for soldiers.

South West Norfolk MP Terry Jermy confirmed military families across his constituency are set to benefit from the plan – with the Government committed to upgrading and modernising nine in ten of the properties, and the creation of a new Defence Housing Service to better support occupants.

The plan has been made possible by Labour’s deal to bring 36,000 of the homes back into public ownership earlier this year.

Announcing the major boost for local military families, Mr Jermy said: “I have long been concerned about the state of military housing in the constituency at locations including Marham, Feltwell and Thetford.

“As the Labour MP with the third greatest number of homes impacted, with nearly 1,000 properties due to be improved, I am of course delighted with this announcement.

“Our British service personnel – and their families – make extraordinary sacrifices to keep us all safe. In this new era of threat, we rely on them more every day. The least they deserve in return is a decent home.”

The plan is also expected to “supercharge” the use of surplus defence land for housebuilding – benefiting both the armed forces community and civilian families across the eastern region.

Through a new ‘forces first’ approach, veterans and serving personnel will receive a ‘first dibs’ purchase priority on new properties, including some affordable homes.

Labour’s Defence Secretary, John Healey MP, said: “Our British forces personnel and our veterans fulfil the ultimate public service. Our nation is rightly proud of them.

“This new strategy will embed a ‘forces first’ approach that tells our forces, our veterans and their families: we are on your side. We can’t fix forces housing overnight, but this effort is already under way and will now accelerate.

“By creating a specialist Defence Housing Service, backed by record investment in military accommodation, we will deliver better value for the taxpayer and fulfil our promise to provide homes fit for heroes.”