What costs money is the land, the actual build costs are relatively low.
We (MoD) owned the land. What was really needed was a rolling programme of demolition of old MQ's and a rebuild programme on the existing sites. The services (utilities) were already there - and the roads, so really we are talking bricks and mortar. The reduced maintenance and energy savings would have paid for most of the work. And a rolling programme of say 30 - 50 houses per year per site would be manageable and sustainable.
What we got was a disgrace of mass sell off and no return on investment. In addition the housing stock now is poorly maintained or only adequate at best. Already the forecasts for costs and rents are going to rise exponentially (maybe even super-exponentially) and punish reducing budgets.
As previously mentioned, we are selling the family silver with an inability to look ahead any further than the end of our noses................
Shambles doesn't begin to describe it. Criminal however, does.............
Arc