RAF Shawbury airbase to be extended as units move in from Bristol

The Ministry of Defence has announced plans to relocate units from 1300 Parkway in Bristol to Shawbury in 2020.

The news was revealed by defence secretary Sir Michael Fallon as part of the Government's better defence estate strategy, which includes proposals to close 56 Ministry of Defence sites across the country.

Sir Michael said the estate was too big and costly to run, with the latest batch of closures paving the way for a more modern military. He also announced that Clive Barracks in Tern Hill, Market Drayton, is planned to close in 2022.

In a letter from junior defence minister Mark Lancaster to North Shropshire MP Owen Paterson, he says: "The department intends to relocate units from 1300 Parkway to RAF Shawbury in 2020. The number of personnel at RAF Shawbury will therefore increase. Also I can assure you that all military units at the site in Tern Hill will be re-provided for. Work to identify potential future locations for the units at Clive Barracks continues."

A MOD Spokesperson said: "The announcement that 1300 Parkway in Bristol will close and elements of their workforce will relocate to RAF Shawbury by 2020 is further confirmation that the MOD considers RAF Shawbury to be one of the core stations in the RAF for years to come."

The MoD has also revealed where it plans to relocate the occupants of Parsons Barracks and Venning Barracks in Donnington, Telford, which are due to close by 2020.

It said the 174 Provost Company of the Royal Military Police and the Special Investigation Branch, which are housed at Parsons Barracks, could be relocated to Beacon Barracks in Stafford. It said the 11th Signal Brigade, which is located at Venning Barracks, could also be relocated to Stafford.

Meanwhile, the HQ 7 Signal Group, also housed at Venning Barracks, could be relocated to Bulford, near Salisbury.