Military families in Portsmouth will celebrate Christmas in homes fit for heroes as a first wave of renovations to forces family homes have been completed ahead of schedule.
Portsmouth South MP Stephen Morgan today welcomed the news that the Labour Government’s ‘Homes fit for Heroes’ programme has upgraded more than 30 forces homes in Portsmouth – just a few months after the launch of Labour’s landmark £9 billion Defence Housing Strategy.
Labour’s Defence Secretary John Healey MP recently visited one of the properties in Hilsea with Stephen alongside Portsmouth North MP Amanda Martin MP and today confirmed that the rapid first phase of the programme has seen the worst 1,000 homes across the UK given a complete makeover, with an ambitious end-of-year deadline. Military families in Portsmouth have seen their homes given new flooring, new boilers and heating systems, repairs to leaky roofs and new bathrooms, kitchens, windows and doors.
The refurbishment of the 1,000 worst homes is part of a new ‘Consumer Charter’ commitments made by the Secretary of State to improve the experience of service families. It comes as the Labour Government delivers on the Strategic Defence Review which was clear on the imperative for fixing forces housing and its impact on military morale, recruitment and retention.
All the Consumer Charter commitments are on course to be achieved by the end of this year, including the implementation of robust standards, ensuring service families can be confident they are moving into clean and functional homes, modernised policies making it easier to personalise homes, and the introduction of a named Housing Officer for every family to provide greater support.
These improvements are already being reflected in the results of monthly surveys of Service personnel, which show a clear upward trajectory in overall levels of satisfaction after years of decline under the Tories.
Portsmouth South MP, Stephen Morgan said:
“Armed Forces Personnel in Portsmouth deserve the very best for the services they provide to our country.
“I am delighted that the refurbishment of Military Homes in the city has been completed just in time for Christmas! This will provide comfort, security and safety for the festive period and beyond.
“Members of the Armed Forces and their families in Portsmouth can be reassured that under this Labour Government we will ensure that they have Homes fit for Heroes.”
Defence Secretary, John Healey MP said:
“Our Armed Forces and their families in Portsmouth sacrifice so much for our country, the least they deserve is a safe and decent home. The work we’ve done to upgrade these homes means that more families can now enjoy Christmas together in homes that are fit for heroes.
“This is just the start of our ambitious work to upgrade tens of thousands of homes across the country, made possible by our landmark deal to bring 36,000 homes back into public ownership and backed by £9 billion investment.
We are ending the decades of neglect and giving our dedicated Armed Forces families the homes they deserve.”
