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 launch of the Better Defence Estate strategy involves a review of the Ministry of Defence (MoD) land headed up by military leaders to deliver a more efficient, modern and capability-focused defence estate.
It is estimated the strategy will save the taxpayer around £140 million by 2020. It will also will reduce the number of personnel being regularly moved between different bases, providing greater long-term stability and certainty for Armed Forces and their families.
The plan will also 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.
Fallon commented: “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.”
