Military families based at Bassingbourn Barracks in Cambridgeshire are set to see the biggest overhaul of armed forces housing in more than half a century, under the Government’s new

Defence Housing Strategy.

Nearly half of the homes on the site will receive major upgrades, including modern heating systems and rooftop solar panels. The improvements aim to boost energy efficiency and cut monthly bills for serving personnel and their families.

The Minister for Veterans and People, Louise Sandher-Jones MP, visited the barracks on Thursday to inspect the work already underway and speak with families about how the changes will improve day-to-day life. Service personnel told the minister the upgrades would make a significant difference to their comfort and financial wellbeing.

The investment has been made possible by the government’s landmark agreement with Annington Homes earlier this year, which returned 36,000 military homes to public ownership. Around 150 of those properties are in Cambridgeshire, with savings from the deal being reinvested directly into repairs and energy-efficiency measures across the armed forces estate.

Minister for Veterans and People, Louise Sandher-Jones MP said:  “Our forces and their families make extraordinary sacrifices, and understanding their lived experiences helps ensure we deliver the homes they truly deserve.

Bassingbourn Barracks is a great example of the Defence Housing Strategy in action, helping to transform our heroes and their families’ quality of living and saving them money on their energy bills”.

Alongside the physical upgrades, Service Personnel and veterans will soon be supported by a new standalone Defence Housing Service. The organisation will manage military homes directly, maintain them under public ownership, prioritise the needs of forces families and expand homeownership opportunities for serving members and veterans. Photo by Lynne Kirton, Wikimedia commons.