Stafford forces family benefits from 7,000th housing upgrade
8 Mar 10
Defence Estates has helped a forces’ family to save money, reduce their carbon footprint and enjoy a more comfortable home by improving the loft insulation in their home.
MOD Stafford marks the 7000th loft insulation with a presentation to Mrs Lancaster
[Picture: Crown Copyright/MOD 2010]
The improvements to the property at MOD Stafford mark the 7,000th insulation upgrade to Service Family Accommodation (SFA) across England and Wales.
DE joined forces with its maintenance contractor, MODern Housing Solutions (MHS), to upgrade 155 properties at the Stafford site - a large supply and logistics depot.
Upgrading insulation in the roof space to the latest standards means that Nathalie Lancaster and her family now enjoy lower heating bills and a warmer, more fuel efficient home, which generates less planet-warming carbon dioxide.
Mrs Lancaster said:
"This has certainly helped to improve the warmth of the home and all the family have noticed the difference – especially with the recent cold weather. I’d like to say thank you for the efforts made to ensure the work had as little impact as possible on family life."
"Improving loft insulation is just one of the simple, but effective, environmental initiatives being delivered by our partnership with MHS designed to improve the quality of accommodation for our Service families."
Mike Starnes, Deputy Head of DE Operations Housing
In 2008/09 the MOD spent £35.5M upgrading 726 Service Families Accommodation (SFA) homes and is set to exceed that number of upgrades in this financial year.
We plan to spend some £3 billion on upgrading and modernising living accommodation over the next 10 years, subject to other defence priorities. Our intention is to have - by 2020 - around 70% of bed-spaces for trained personnel at Grade 1 and all UK family quarters at the top Standard for Condition.
Over 4,000 service family homes in England and Wales have benefited from improved loft insulation this financial year alone. They now meet the current Building Regulations requirement of 270mm thickness for loft insulation.
Mike Starnes, Deputy Head of DE Operations Housing, said of the scheme:
"Improving loft insulation is just one of the simple, but effective, environmental initiatives being delivered by our partnership with MHS designed to improve the quality of accommodation for our Service families."
"We’re very pleased that MOD Stafford was one of the sites selected by Defence Estates to benefit from this improvement."
Flight Lieutenant Sean Fothergill, of Tactical Supply Wing, MOD Stafford
Flight Lieutenant Sean Fothergill, of Tactical Supply Wing, MOD Stafford, said that the project would improve comfort and well being for Service families now and in the future.
"We’re very pleased that MOD Stafford was one of the sites selected by Defence Estates to benefit from this improvement."
MHS is delivering the loft insulation programme on behalf of Defence Estates. Phil Shepley, MHS Managing Director, added:
"We know the project is much appreciated by residents who not only have improved comfort, but greater fuel efficiency and a reduced carbon footprint. It’s also great news that our efforts to minimise the impact of the work on families have been appreciated."