UK-Defence
Defence Minister Bob Ainsworth confirmed Thursday that the Headquarters Allied Rapid Reaction Corps (HQ ARRC) and its supporting elements will move from their current base in Germany to Innsworth, in Gloucestershire, western England in 2010.

The return is part of Britain's so-called BORONA Programme, agreed last year, to withdraw around 3,600 of Britain's 21,000 troops stationed in Germany.

"We will work with the local authorities in Gloucestershire to prepare for the arrival of personnel, families and equipment in two years time," Ainsworth said.

HQ ARRC is a high readiness land force, prepared to deploy under NATO, EU or coalition auspices to a designated area, to undertake combined and joint operations across a spectrum of operations.

Chief of the General Staff, General Sir Richard Dannatt, said the move "presents an excellent long-term future location in the UK for service personnel and their families."
"HQ ARRC is held in high regard by NATO and will remain readily available for NATO operations. Moreover, having this prestigious organisation located in the UK will be a major boost in maintaining our strong profile in local communities," Dannatt said.

Two regiments are also due to return from Germany to be based at Defence College for Aeronautical Engineering at Cosford in central England but no date has yet been announced.

The BORONA project was announced in 2006 to examine in detail opportunities for the "rationalisation of basing arrangements in Germany" after Britain withdrew 2,200 troops as part of a
"rebalancing" following the end of the Cold War.

Announcing the results last September, Armed Forces Minister Bob Ainsworth said the decision was "significant" for the personnel involved and their families, but added that 15,000 British troops would remain in Germany for years to come.

The withdrawals come at a time of growing concern about Britain's armed forces being overstretched by the continuing deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan.