THE transfer of 1,200 military personnel from Germany has been delayed for two years.

The 1 Signal Brigade was to move to Stafford in 2013. As well as bringing hundreds of soldiers and their families to the town to boost the economy, the move meant Beacon Barracks, pictured below, was to be expanded.

But Defence Minister Bill Rammell said yesterday that the plan would have to be delayed by two years until 2015 because resources to facilitate the move were needed elsewhere. Eight hundred military personnel and 400 civilian defence staff are already based at the site.

Mr Rammell said in a statement: "It has been necessary to delay the moves by two years beyond previously announced timelines in order to accommodate other defence priorities."

The move is part of the Ministry of Defence's Borona Programme to close some of the Cold War-era British Army garrisons in Germany.

Mr Rammell added that Stafford remains the chosen base for the 1 Signal Brigade.

The town's MP David Kidney has lobbied for building contracts at Beacon Barracks and for off-site military housing to go to local firms.

He said yesterday's announcement was disappointing, but there was a positive element to the delay.

He said: "I have been having a bit of a spat with the Ministry of Defence about its plan for tendering all the expansion works at Stafford in one giant contract. This delay means that the current procurement competition to develop the infrastructure and construction requirements at Beacon Barracks will be cancelled.

"This gives me time to press the case for a more sustainable procurement process that allows local businesses to bid for parts of the work."

The 1 Signal Brigade provides communications support to the Headquarters Allied Rapid Reaction Corps.

It had been heading for Cosford, in Shropshire, but Government officials changed their mind after visiting Stafford.

The 248 Gurkha Signal Squadron is one of the field squadrons serving with 22 Signal Regiment and has been based in Stafford since 2007.

Councillor Anthony Welch, who represents the Stafford Borough Council ward which the barracks fall in, said: "This news is a bit of a blow. When the Gurkhas moved to the area there was quite an influx of children into the schools, and that had a very positive impact on the area. Hopefully the delay won't have too much of an impact."