Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Armed Forces Housing

Monday 2 February 2026 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Mohammad Yasin welcomed the new publicly owned Defence Housing Service, which is improving conditions for service families by bringing 4688 of 5088 military homes in the eastern region back into public ownership.
  • Jim Shannon noted a site at Ballykinler that has been vacant for five years despite having been heated and having new windows, and asked about the possibility of reusing the property.
  • The Minister stated they would provide an update to Jim Shannon on the specific instance and are exploring how to make best use of the existing estate.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Mohammad Yasin Lab Bedford
Defence Housing
Context

The Minister for Veterans and People previously announced a defence housing strategy with a £9 billion investment over ten years to upgrade, renew or rebuild 90% of military homes. The previous government was criticised for neglecting forces families in terms of housing.

Question

I welcome the new publicly owned Defence Housing Service, which is already improving conditions for service families by bringing 4,688 of the 5,088 military homes in the eastern region back into public ownership for upgrade and renewal. Does the Minister agree that we must continue investing in our armed forces—the backbone of our national security—and that after years of neglect under the last Government, Labour’s £9 billion military housing strategy is finally delivering the homes and support that our service families deserve?

Answer from The Minister for Veterans and People (Louise Sandher-Jones)

My hon. Friend is right to point out that under the previous Government, forces families were severely let down on housing. Under the plans set out in the defence housing strategy, 90% of military homes will, as he rightly notes, be upgraded, renewed or rebuilt.

Answered
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Q2 Jim Shannon DUP Strangford
Defence Housing
Context

A site at Ballykinler has been vacant for five years despite having new windows and heating. The questioner suggests repurposing unused properties for youth camps, social housing or other purposes.

Question

There is massive improvement in forces housing, but there is a site at Ballykinler that has been lying vacant for, I understand, five years. It is heated, and it has new windows. There has been lots of work done. I have written to the MOD, asking whether it is possible for properties that are not being used to be used for another purpose. For instance, they could be used for youth camps, for youth groups or for social housing, because this site in Ballykinler is secure.

Answer from The Minister for Veterans and People (Louise Sandher-Jones)

As the hon. Member will be aware, I cannot provide an update on that specific instance now, but I will get an answer for him. We are exploring how we can make best use of the existing estate.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Providing a direct update on the Ballykinler site

How: Cannot Provide An Update Now

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