Ministry of Defence

Homes fit for heroes as over 100 military houses in Wales upgraded before Christmas

Published

2 months ago

December 24, 2025

MORE than 100 military family homes in Wales have been refurbished in time for Christmas as part of a UK-wide drive to address the poorest conditions in forces housing.

The work forms part of a programme to overhaul the 1,000 worst service family homes across the UK, a target that has now been met ahead of schedule. The scheme has also been expanded, with a further 250 properties set to receive priority upgrades by the spring.

The programme, known as Raising the Minimum Standards, has delivered extensive improvements to service accommodation across the country, including properties in Wales.

The upgrades include replacement boilers and heating systems, new flooring, repairs to leaking roofs, and the installation of new kitchens, bathrooms, windows and doors. In many cases, homes have undergone comprehensive refurbishment to address long-standing maintenance issues.

The work represents the first phase of the Ministry of Defence’s Defence Housing Strategy, which aims to modernise, refurbish or rebuild more than 40,000 service family homes over the next decade. The strategy is backed by £9bn of investment and follows a deal agreed last year to bring 36,000 military homes back into public ownership.

Defence Secretary John Healey said the improvements would allow more military families in Wales to enjoy Christmas in safe and decent accommodation.

“Our Armed Forces and their families sacrifice a great deal for the country,” he said. “The least they deserve are homes that are fit to live in. Completing upgrades to the worst properties means more families can spend Christmas together in decent conditions.

“This is only the beginning of a much larger programme to address decades of underinvestment in military housing.”

Secretary of State for Wales Jo Stevens said the improvements marked a positive start but acknowledged further work was needed.

“Military families in Wales deserve high-quality accommodation, and this is an important step towards improving homes that have been in need of modernisation,” she said.

David Brewer, chief operating officer of the Defence Infrastructure Organisation, said the work would continue beyond the initial phase.

“We have made improvements to the worst-performing homes, but this is just the start of a generational renewal,” he said. “Our aim is to see the vast majority of service family homes brought up to an acceptable standard.”

The refurbishment programme is one of several commitments made under the Consumer Charter launched earlier this year, which sets minimum standards for military housing. Other measures include improved move-in conditions, clearer maintenance standards, and the introduction of a named housing officer for every service family.

According to the MOD, early feedback from service personnel suggests satisfaction levels with military housing are beginning to improve, although wider upgrades remain ongoing.

Local Government

MoD plans for Pembrokeshire site submitted to council

Published

10 hours ago

February 16, 2026

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

PLANS for specialist MoD air traffic radio direction finding equipment works at Pembrokeshire’s Cawdor barracks, where a ‘DARC’ deep space radar facility is proposed, have been submitted to the council.

Cawdor barracks, Brawdy, is occupied by the 14th Signal Regiment who are due to vacate the Barracks in 2028.

A formal screening opinion call, under Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations, submitted to Pembrokeshire County Council by agent Montagu Evans on behalf of the ministry of Defence (MoD) has been submitted relating to renewal works to be undertaken to the air traffic equipment at Cawdor Barracks.

A supporting statement says: “The Ministry of Defence are progressing a full planning application with associated Environmental Statement for a Deep Space Advanced Radar Capability (DARC) Facility on part of the barracks site.

“ This project has yet to be submitted for approval and is being brought forward independently of the renewal works to the Radio Direction Finder.

“The Cawdor Barracks airfield includes a Directional Finder (DF) which forms part of the service operated under a requirement from the National Air Traffic Services (NATS) and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).

“It forms part of the nation-wide system automatic triangulation and distress, and diversion network regulate by the CAA on behalf of NATS. It is located towards the centre of the airfield.

“The network of DF installations is a civilian rather than military requirement, and allows bearing data to be provided to the Distress and Diversion Cell at NATS Swanwick. This is a national service which locates and supports aircraft in distress and manages the diversion of other aircraft.

“The current DF equipment comprises a 0.5m cabinet for electronics, a counterpose mounted the building which holds the ultra-high frequency antennas and a mast upon which the antenna array of 18 antennas is mounted.

“The existing DF equipment is reaching the end of its operational life and must be replaced at a manner which allows for continued operations. It is to be replaced with a High-Resolution Direction Finder (HRDF) which is being managed under the Ministry of Defence’s MARSHALL programme.

The new equipment will allow signals to be received from aircraft up to approximately 90 nautical miles (Nm) from the site, providing maximum coverage of the area through including the Bristol Channel and St Georges Channel.

“The existing DF will remain operational during installation of the new equipment. Once the HRDF is operational, the existing system will be decommissioned and removed from the site. Works are to commence in early 2026 and completed by early 2027.”

Community

Communities invited to bid for Armed Forces Day funding as £500,000 pot announced

Published

1 week ago

February 9, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Grants of up to £10,000 available for local events across Wales and the UK

COMMUNITIES across Wales are being encouraged to organise their own Armed Forces Day celebrations after the Ministry of Defence announced a £500,000 funding package to support events nationwide this summer.

Grants of up to £10,000 are available to help towns, schools, charities and community groups stage local events, with funding designed to match money raised from other sources.

The support forms part of preparations for Armed Forces Day on Saturday, June 27, 2026, and the wider Armed Forces Week programme aimed at strengthening ties between the military and the public.

Wales is home to nearly two thousand serving personnel, while the defence sector supports close to four thousand jobs. The MOD says it spent £1.1 billion with Welsh businesses during the 2024–25 financial year, underlining the industry’s importance to the nation’s economy.

Previous events have drawn huge crowds. In 2018, Llandudno hosted the national celebrations, attracting an estimated 100,000 visitors and a parade of around 1,000 service members.

‘Extraordinary sacrifices’

Defence Secretary John Healey said the funding would help communities properly recognise the contribution of service personnel and their families.

He said: “Our Armed Forces make extraordinary sacrifices to keep us safe. But they can’t do what they do without the support of their families, friends and communities across the country.

“In June we look forward to coming together as a proud nation to celebrate Armed Forces Day, and I want this funding to help make this year the best yet.

“If you back our Forces and want to thank them with a celebration in your local area, do apply for a grant and register your event with us so we can help you spread the word.”

Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens added that the grants would allow communities across Wales to show their appreciation.

She said: “Armed Forces Day is a chance for people across Wales to come together to show their support for the service men and women who we all rely on to keep us safe.

“These grants mean that communities can put on special events to celebrate the contribution of our Armed Forces and their families and thank them for their sacrifice.”

Cover Image:

Armed Forces day celebrated in Haverfordwest in 2019 (File pic)

Ministry of Defence

‘Houses shake’ as C-17 Globemaster tracked flying low over Haverfordwest

Published

4 weeks ago

January 19, 2026

Tom Sinclair

RAF heavy transport aircraft JDW828 carried out training sortie over Pembrokeshire and the south-west

Residents in Haverfordwest reported a large military aircraft flying low over the town at around 11:00am on Monday (Jan 19).

Flight tracking information identified the aircraft as JDW828, a Royal Air Force Boeing C-17A Globemaster III, operating from RAF Brize Norton.

The recorded track showed the aircraft conducting a wide training circuit across the south-west, including repeated manoeuvres over parts of Pembrokeshire and Cornwall, before routing back east.

The C-17 is a heavy-lift transport used by the RAF to move troops, equipment and humanitarian aid, and is regularly seen on training flights across the UK.

One resident said: “It was a awesome sight, so low it was almost at the chimney tops – the house was shaking!”

“Brilliant!”

A request for comment has been sent to the Ministry of Defence.