Army marches on with £10m base mission

AROUND £10 million will be spent to develop Army bases in the North-West as part of plans to bring British troops home from Germany.

Details of the investment in new bases and accommodation have been set out in the Army Basing Plan which clarifies for the first time the Army’s future permanent UK locations.

The cash is part of £1.8 billion of investment being spent across the UK.

The Ministry of Defence says the new basing plan will make better use of the Defence estate and provide better accommodation and facilities for troops and their families.

In the North-West:

2nd Battalion The Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment will remain at Weeton Barracks near Blackpool.

3 Medical Regiment will move to Fulwood Barracks from Catterick in 2014, bringing around 200 more soldiers into Preston.

1st Battalion The Royal Welsh Regiment, currently based in Dale Barracks, Chester, will merge with its 2nd Battalion and move to Tidworth in Wiltshire.

2nd Battalion The Mercian Regiment will replace 1st Battalion The Royal Welsh Regiment and move into Dale Barracks, Chester, from Belfast in 2014.

Army Headquarters North West will remain in Preston.

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The Army will be brought back from Germany by 2020 — a move expected to eventually save £240 million a year.

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