New super barracks to cost £400m

THE proposed new army super barracks at Kirknewton could cost as much as £400 million, it emerged today - far more than is likely to be raised from the sale of army bases in Edinburgh.

Defence Secretary Liam Fox announced last week that the Capital's Dreghorn and Redford barracks and the divisional headquarters at Craigiehall would be closed and sold off, while a new modern barracks for up to 2000 soldiers would be built at Kirknewton.

Latest Treasury figures value the three city bases at 70m, but the cost of the new barracks was today put at 400m.

It was also suggested married accommodation would not be included, meaning married soldiers would have to live in Edinburgh and travel each day to Kirknewton.

Retired colonel Clive Fairweather said: "The whole idea seems too impractical and costly."