By Alistair Bunkall, Defence Correspondent
Seven UK army sites will be axed as part of a major shake-up as soldiers return from Germany, it has been announced.
Defence Secretary Philip Hammond said the changes would save £240m a year in running costs as soldiers move into "clusters" in key locations.
Repatriating all troops from Germany will end Britain's long military history in the country, which dates back to the end of World War Two.
Most of the 15,000 still serving there and their dependents will come home by 2016, ahead of schedule. The remainder, around 4,500, will return by 2019.
The moves will primarily affect the RAF and Army.
Returning forces will mainly be stationed around Salisbury Plain, Edinburgh and Leuchars, Catterick, Aldershot, Colchester, Stafford and the East Midlands.
But several other sites will lose their military presence as the army shrinks.
These include Claro Barracks in Ripon, North Yorkshire, Howe Barracks in Canterbury, Craigiehall Barracks in Edinburgh and Cawdor Brracks in Brawdy, Pembrokeshire.
Parts of Redford Barracks in Edinburgh, Forthside Brracks in Stirling and Copthorne Barracks in Shrewsbury will also be available for disposal.
Under the plans, almost £2bn will be invested in army housing and bases. Around £1bn of that will go on new houses for service families and accommodation for single soldiers.
Another £800m will be spent on infrastructure and refurbishment of bases.
Some 1,900 new homes will be built for military families and accommodation to house 7,800 single soldiers.
Mr Hammond said the plans would give troops and their families greater stability.
He also defended the decision to drop plans to double the size of the army in Scotland and said the changes would ensure Britain retains an adaptable, capable force.
General Sir Peter Wall, Chief of the General Staff, said: "The plan provides an excellent springboard for operations overseas and it affords welcome certainty over where people will live."
But shadow defence secretary Jim Murphy told MPs: "There will be real disappointment at the closures across the UK today - from Canterbury, Ripon, Shrewsbury and Brawdy, where historic bonds are now being broken."
The decision not to send thousands more troops to Scotland was a "real blow" and "will not be forgotten", Mr Murphy added.
The intention to carry out the changes was first announced in 2010 after the Strategic Defence Review.
Further details were expected before Christmas but were delayed in light of the Autumn Statement because the Ministry of Defence had to re-examine the figures.
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