General reveals the challenge behind military's accommodation pilot in Cyprus

A general has explained to Forces News the challenges of rolling out an accommodation pilot scheme in Cyprus offering personnel in long-term relationships the same housing rights as married couples.

Deputy Commander of Strategic Command Lieutenant General Tom Copinger-Symes said simply having enough houses will be the issue for the pilot as the Ministry of Defence (MOD) shakes up how it provides accommodation to personnel and their families.

During a visit to British Forces Cyprus, Lt Gen Copinger-Symes told Forces News: "We're looking at having a pilot here to explore the long-term relationship rights.

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"The challenge is, of course, the stock, because if we change that policy and increase the amount of people who need housing, we need to make sure the housing is available and a suitable standard."

The move to give those in established long-term relationships the same access to housing as those who are married or in a civil partnership was announced by the MOD in September, as part of what the department called the biggest change to Armed Forces accommodation in a generation amid criticism of housing standards.

As it stands, this only applies to personnel living in the UK with overseas accommodation coming under a separate policy.

British Forces Cyprus - which is home to the RAF's busiest operational base, Akrotiri - will trial this change as it prepares to undergo a major transformation.

Lt Gen Copinger-Symes said: "Over the next 10 years we're investing about £2bn in our facilities here in Cyprus.

"That's split sort of half about looking after our families, so new quarters that are seismically compatible, clearly working closely with the Republic of Cyprus on that and then also upgrading our military capabilities here - about another billion over 10 [years].

"So a billion on housing, a billion on military capabilities which really nails just how important this is to us."

One focus of the upgrades is improving the RAF Akrotiri airfield which Lt Gen Copinger-Symes described as "third-generation".

"We're going to build a fifth-generation airfield, a sixth-gen-capable airfield ready to properly look after fifth-generation aircraft but also looking forward to sixth-generation aircraft."

Strategic Command leads for defence in supporting overseas bases.