The Ministry of Defence (MOD) aims to have all UK service families living in the highest standard of accommodation by 2020.

The Ten Year Accommodation Management Strategy launched last week sets out plans for improving housing for both Service Families Accommodation and Single Living Accommodation over the next decade.

Defence Estates will now target its major upgrade programme on improving 4,000 houses in the worst condition (Standards 3 and 4) every year for the next three years. By March 2013 very few, if any, families should be living in houses that don't meet the top two condition standards. By the same date, 50% of Single Living Accommodation (SLA) should also be at the top grade.

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The MOD has made major investments in SLA over the past seven years, providing 35,000 trained military personnel with accommodation of the highest modern standard. By 2020, Defence Estates aims to provide 70 per cent of SLA at the top level (Grade 1) and the remainder at Grade 2.

Key features of the strategy include better communication of upgrade plans to military personnel and their families and tough action to reduce the proportion of accommodation that is lying empty.

Under Secretary of State for Defence, Kevan Jones, said: "Our military personnel work extremely hard and both they and their families deserve accommodation of a high standard. This strategy builds on the principles set out by the Service Personnel Command Paper and shows that we have solid plans in place to improve accommodation for all our personnel."

Over the next ten years the MOD plans to spend over £3bn on new-build, upgraded and improved living accommodation for the Armed Forces.

(CD/GK)