Single Living Accommodation: Independent Review

(Limited Text - Ministerial Extracts only)

Tuesday 10th November 2026 Written Statements

[The Minister for Veterans and People (Mr Calvin Bailey)]

The Government recognise that for too long, military accommodation has fallen short of the standards our service people expect and deserve. This Government are committed to making this right, and last year, we published the Defence housing strategy to deliver a generational renewal to fix family housing.

We also recognised the need to fundamentally reform accommodation for single and unaccompanied personnel. That is why, in January, the Government commissioned an independent review into single living accommodation, led by Natalie Elphicke Ross OBE. I am pleased to announce that, today, Natalie has published the SLA review report. The Government welcome the review and its recommendations.

The Government will consider all 19 recommendations in more detail before setting out a full response in the coming months. Given the scale of change being proposed, it is essential that we take the time to get this right and put in place the foundations needed to deliver meaningful change for our people.

This is a substantial piece of work that has examined the full spectrum of SLA provision, from how it is managed and maintained to how it is funded and delivered. The review highlights the vital role that military accommodation plays in the lived experience of our armed forces personnel, and the contribution it makes to recruitment, retention, wellbeing and operational effectiveness. It also identifies the systemic issues that have contributed to poor living standards, including shortcomings in the Department’s governance and oversight of accommodation. I am extremely grateful to Natalie, the review team, and the many service personnel and stakeholders who contributed their time, expertise and lived experience to this important work.

The report makes 19 recommendations, including to establish a new decent SLA standard; strengthen maintenance through a more preventative and proactive approach; improve personal safety, privacy and digital connectivity; modernise communal facilities; enhance the quality of accommodation data; and strengthen the accountability and oversight of accommodation reform across Defence. Taken together, these recommendations propose a fundamental reset of the Department’s approach to managing and delivering single living accommodation.

We are already taking steps to drive this work forward. Air Marshal Sir Paul Lloyd, Deputy Chief of the Air Staff, has agreed to oversee this important work and will be supported by teams from across Defence. One of their immediate priorities will be to assess the changes we can make to deliver a standard that better meets the needs of our people in single living accommodation.

I would like to reiterate my thanks to the review team for producing such a thorough report. We are determined to do right by our people and look forward to presenting our full response to Parliament in due course.

[HCWS458]