Vigilance can report that Defence Secretary Michael Fallon has announced that over £4 billion will be invested to create a better defence estate for the UK’s Armed Forces and their families.
The ‘Better Defence Estate’ strategy is a review of Ministry of Defence (MOD) land headed up by military leaders to deliver a more efficient, modern and capability-focused defence estate. In the most significant changes to defence land since the Second World War, 91 sites owned or managed by the MOD are set to be sold. Every penny raised from the sales will be reinvested back into defence, creating areas of military expertise in specific locations around the country.Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said: “We have been spending billions maintaining a defence estate that doesn’t meet the needs of our Armed Forces. This plan delivers an estate fit for our forces and their families. By putting money where it is needed, we will provide better facilities to train our Armed Forces and deliver more stability for military families.”
As well as saving the taxpayer money – around £140 million by the end of the decade - the changes will reduce the number of personnel being regularly moved between different bases, providing greater long-term stability and certainty for our Armed Forces and their families. The plan will see sites and bases moved to locations that offer better opportunities for military families - increasing employment prospects for partners and spouses, helping them to settle into communities, buy their own homes and have their children benefit from more stable schooling.
Today’s announcement follows a pledge by Mr Fallon last week to invest over £1.1 billion in facilities on Salisbury Plain to support troops returning from Germany, meaning, in total, more than £5 billion has been earmarked to defence infrastructure in the last two weeks.
More than 32,500 acres of excess defence land is being released, including ten surplus airfields and five golf courses, which will support the MOD in achieving its target to provide enough land for 55,000 homes, helping the Government contribute to its target of 160,000 new homes by 2020. There will also be significant economic benefits, providing employment opportunities for construction and the service industries across the UK.
The Defence Secretary also confirmed today the intended future locations for a number of the 35 sites the MOD has already announced are due for release.