Ernie Clark. Hilperton Division, Wiltshire Council.

£850m investment into Wiltshire Army bases announced.

Around £850 million pounds will be spent to develop Army bases in Wiltshire as part of plans to bring British troops home from Germany, Defence Secretary Philip Hammond has announced.

Details of the investment in new bases and accommodation were set out in the Army Basing Plan which clarifies for the first time the Army’s future permanent UK locations. The £850m being spent is part of £1.8 billion of investment being spent across the UK.

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

All three of the Army’s new Reactive Force Armoured Infantry Brigades, announced last year as part of the army 2020 plans, will be based around Salisbury Plain. Two are already located at the site and the third will move to Salisbury Plain from Germany by 2019.

The Plan will see an increase of around 4,000 army personnel to the area by 2019 and investment in infrastructure across bases and on military housing. By 2020 there will be approximately 14, 800 personnel.

The plan to increase the army presence on Salisbury Plain will require careful planning and continued consultation with the council and relevant statutory bodies. Wiltshire Council and DEFRA’s Major Infrastructure and Environment Unit have been engaged during the planning phases of the basing planning.

MOD will work with Wiltshire Council, English Heritage and other key stakeholders to ensure that any effects on the World Heritage Site, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and nature conservation areas through the Environment Impact Assessments (EIA) and “appropriate assessments” under the Habitats Regulations, are mitigated.

The following unit moves will take place around the Salisbury Plain area, subject to planning permission:

• Larkhill will continue as the spiritual home of the Royal Regiment of Artillery with four new artillery units: 26 Regiment Royal Artillery will move from Germany to Larkhill after 2017; 47 Regiment Royal Artillery will move to Larkhill by 2014 from Thorney Island; 1 Regiment Royal Horse Artillery and 19 Regiment Royal Artillery will both move to Larkhill by 2014. They are currently located in Tidworth.

• Bulford will become the new home of 5th Battalion The Rifles as they move from Germany after 2016 and to 1st Battalion The Princess of Wales’ Royal Regiment who will move from Germany after 2017.

• Tidworth will become the home of The Queen's Royal Hussars (The Queen’s Own and Royal Irish) moving from Germany after 2017. This will collocate three Challenger equipped Armoured Regiments at the site.

• Tidworth will also become the home of two new medical units by 2020: 1 Medical Regiment from Germany and 5 Medical Regiment from Catterick.

• Tidworth will also house 3 Close Support Battalion Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers by 2020. The unit is currently based in Germany.

• Perham Down will receive a third Engineer Regiment as 35 Engineer Regiment moves from Germany by 2020.

• Headquarters 1st Artillery Brigade will be based in Tidworth with Headquarters South West.

Around 70% of the Army will be brought back from Germany by the end of 2016 with the final 4,300 back by the end of 2019 – a move expected to eventually save £240 million a year. These changes will provide savings and efficiencies for the army, a sustainable military footprint to support military operations and certainty for personnel and their families.