A shake-up of Army bases to accommodate a speeded-up return of all troops from Germany will mean the disposal of seven sites across the country, it has been announced.
Defence Secretary Philip Hammond said the changes would save £240 million a year in running costs as soldiers are moved into "clusters" in key locations.
Returning forces will mainly be stationed around Salisbury Plain, Edinburgh and Leuchars, Catterick, Aldershot, Colchester, Stafford and the East Midlands. With the size of the Army already being substantially reduced, however, it will also mean several other sites losing their military presence.
Those being made available for disposal are: Claro Barracks, Ripon, North Yorkshire; Howe Barracks, Canterbury; Craigiehall Barracks in Edinburgh; Cawdor Barracks in Brawdy, Pembrokeshire; and elements of Redford Barracks, Edinburgh; Forthside Barracks, Stirling; and Copthorne Barracks, Shrewsbury.
Around 11,000 British troops based in Germany will return home by 2016 under plans which will see nearly £2 billion invested in Army housing and bases. That is 70% of the total and ahead of the plan to have half out by that date. The remaining 4,500 troops will be back in the UK by 2019, a year earlier than planned.
Around £1 billion of the funding being announced will be go towards 1,900 new houses for service families and accommodation for 7,800 single soldiers. Another £800 million will be spent on infrastructure and refurbishment of bases.
Far fewer than originally anticipated of the returning troops will be based in Scotland, Mr Hammond confirmed - but insisted Scotland would still have "a little bit more than its fair share" of military personnel based on the size of its population.
Mr Hammond said: "By setting out our plans to bring troops back to the UK we are not only providing our service personnel and their families with greater stability for their future, but also generating a saving of around £240 million a year in operational running costs. We are going to invest an additional £1.8 billion in our new basing plan."
General Sir Peter Wall, Chief of the General Staff, said: "This announcement is very welcome news for the Army. The plan provides an excellent springboard for operations overseas and it affords welcome certainty over where people will live."
Wales Office Minister Stephen Crabb said the closure of the Cawdor Barracks - which Mr Hammond said was no longer "fit for purpose" - was "disappointing". But he welcomed a £100 million investment in the St Athan base to which the 14th Signal Regiment (EW) unit is to relocate.
