Local MP calls for ‘homes fit for heroes’

Shocking figures reveal that 44.9% of armed forces personnel in Cheshire are living in the lowest grade accommodation of the Ministry of Defence’s (MoD) single-living accommodation.

Member of Parliament for City of Chester MP, Samantha Dixon, commented: “Chester has a long historic links with our armed forces and I’m proud to represent our brave servicemen and women who live in the Dale Barracks in Upton. 

“But the fact that 220 armed forces personnel across Cheshire are living in Grade 4 housing is a failure of the Conservative Government’s duty to them and their families. 

In response, the Labour Party has commissioned an independent review of defence accommodation, chaired by Lord Bob Kerslake who used to lead the UK’s civil service. Lord Kerslake sits as a cross-bencher in the House of Lords.

Mrs Dixon continued: “I encourage all local service personnel and their families to submit their views to this independent review via Labour’s Homes Fit for Heroes campaign website: 

https://labour.org.uk/homesfitforheroes/" 

Across the country, almost 39,000 members of the armed forces live in Grade 4 accommodation, the lowest grade of MoD accommodation. A further 4,360 personnel live in accommodation so poor that no rental charge is levied. Just 21% live in the top ‘Grade 1’ accommodation, the lowest proportion since 2018. 

MOD data shows that 220 of 490 service personnel in Cheshire live in Grade 4 Single Living Accommodation, the lowest rating given by the Ministry of Defence.  

The grades awarded to Single Living Accommodation are based on ‘deficiency points’ allocated across 14 categories. Points are apportioned for the condition of bedroom decoration, fixtures and fittings, adequacy of heating systems and the proximity of toilet and washing facilities, among other factors. 

There is currently no minimum quality standard set for Single Living Accommodation and no minimum acceptable conditions that service personnel should expect. A 2021 National Audit Office report on Single Living Accommodation exposed ‘decades of underinvestment’ and ‘problems with heating and hot water.’ 

• Number of personnel living in Single Living Accommodation, by local authority, as of 29 November 2022 (latest data):

https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2022-11-28/97438 

• Number of personnel living in Grade 4 Single Living Accommodation, by local authority, as of 25 November 2022 (latest data): 

https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2022-11-25/96563 

• The Kerslake Review is an independent review of defence housing commissioned by Labour to inform our next manifesto on defence housing For more information please visit: 

https://www.kcl.ac.uk/news/lord-kerslake-to-chair-independent-commission-onmilitary-accommodation 

• The MoD says that 96,160 service personnel live in Single Living Accommodation as of 08 November 2022: 

https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2022-11-03/78640 

https://samantha-dixon.co.uk/

Pictured - Member of Parliament for City of Chester MP, Samantha Dixon.