Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 21
21
Deferred
Accelerate the unacceptable 13-year accommodation upgrade programme at RAF Marham
Recommendation
The Department told us that it has plans to upgrade accommodation at RAF Marham but will not complete these plans for many years. The Department will upgrade 900 accommodation units and bedrooms across the base. However, the Department told us that the programme for doing so began in 2021 and will not be completed until 2034. The Department acknowledged that it would have preferred to have upgraded the accommodation earlier to coincide with personnel arriving to work on F-35. But it said that this was not possible because it needed to make savings and prioritised preserving its operational output over upgrading infrastructure.44 We believe this length of time for refurbishment is unacceptable and have asked the Department to write to us to say how this can be accelerated. The Department told us that it had made significant investment in upgrading single-living accommodation at RAF Lossiemouth, which was a few years ahead of RAF Marham in the programme, and linked that to the workforce there feeling engaged, valued and invested in.45 43 Q 107 44 Q 105 45 Q 107 13 3 F-35 costs and future procurement Costs
Government Response Summary
The Department will reassess infrastructure requirements against departmental priorities following the publication of the Defence Investment Plan, and will advise the Committee by 31 May 2026 whether the timescale for RAF Marham accommodation can be brought forward.
Government Response
Deferred
HM Government
Deferred
4.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: May 2026 4.2 Following the publication of the Defence Investment Plan infrastructure requirements will be reassessed against departmental priorities. The department will write to the Committee by 31 May 2026 to advise whether the current timescale for RAF Marham accommodation can be brought forward.