Housing transformed for forces families

Homeland January 20, 2026

The Ministry of Defence has launched its most ambitious housing programme in over 50 years, committing £9 billion over the next decade to fix and modernise its family housing estate.

The UK Government has introduced the Armed Forces Bill to Parliament, a significant legislative package designed to overhaul military housing and modernise the nation’s commitment to its service personnel.

At the centre of this legislation is the establishment of the Defence Housing Service (DHS), a standalone body tasked with managing the delivery of the £9 billion Defence Housing Strategy. This initiative represents a comprehensive effort to address years of underinvestment in the defence estate and to streamline the management of tens of thousands of military homes.

The DHS is expected to oversee a generational renewal of approximately 90% of the current military housing stock. Crucially for the construction, property, and civil engineering sectors, the Bill includes plans to kickstart the development of 100,000 new homes on surplus defence land. This project presents a significant long-term pipeline of work for prime contractors and sub-contractors, with personnel and veterans designated as priority recipients for these units. The accompanying Consumer Charter mandates higher accommodation standards and more responsive maintenance services, which will likely increase demand for specialised facilities management and refurbishment contractors capable of meeting robust new performance benchmarks.

Beyond infrastructure, the Bill introduces measures to bolster the UK’s Strategic Reserve. The maximum recall age for former service personnel will be increased from 55 to 65, and the threshold for recall will be expanded to include “warlike preparations” in addition to national emergencies. These changes, which align the UK with NATO partners such as the United States and France, highlight a shift toward enhanced national readiness. Businesses within the defence supply chain should note these adjustments, as they may affect the availability and deployment of personnel with reservist status during periods of heightened operational tempo.

In response to modern security threats, the legislation also grants new powers to service personnel to detect, deter, and defeat unauthorised drone incursions over the Defence Estate. This expansion of authority reflects lessons learned from contemporary conflicts and indicates a growing requirement for Counter-Uncrewed Air Systems (C-UAS) technology and integrated security solutions. Furthermore, the Bill extends the Armed Forces Covenant to all levels of government, legally requiring public bodies to account for the unique needs of the military community in social care and employment support. For the UK defence industry, this legislation provides a clearer roadmap for future estate management, personnel welfare, and site security requirements, ensuring the domestic supply chain is aligned with the government’s long-term modernisation goals.