Historic Fort George will be axed as part of “brutal” cuts to military bases in Scotland – but has been given a 15-year stay of execution.
And the Ministry of Defence also confirmed yesterday that Kinloss Barracks in Moray will be kept open and may even be expanded.
The future of both sites has been in the balance amid an ongoing review of military spending across the UK.
Major General Alastair Dickinson admitted the closure of Fort George near Inverness was “incredibly sad” – and suggested it could sold off after it is mothballed in 2032.
The Black Watch troops currently stationed at the 250-year-old fort will be moved to an “as yet to be decided” location.
The closure has provoked a furious backlash from local politicians who had campaigned to keep it open.
MP Drew Hendry branded the cuts “savage” and “much worse than expected”.
But Maj Gen Dickinson insisted the changes were necessary.
He said: “The closure of a base like Fort George is incredibly sad.
“I closed the base of the regiment I commanded not too long ago and the British Army had been there for 45 years – very sad indeed.
“There’s no getting away from this.
“However, our soldiers are 21st century soldiers. They deserve 21st century equipment, they deserve 21st century training.
“They also deserve 21st century accommodation and, with the best will in the world, Fort George is a listed building – it is not economically viable to transform it into 21st century accommodation.
“That’s the decision that has been taken for military reasons.”
Fort George will not close until 2032, at which point Maj Gen Dickinson suggested it “theoretically” could be sold off.
But the director of army basing and infrastructure also suggested Kinloss Barracks could benefit from the closure.
He said: “Kinloss may be expanded as a result of Fort George closing. Those plans have yet to be firmed up.
“As far as the disposal of Fort George itself, I am assuming what will take place is conversations between Historic Scotland in terms of the next steps.
“Theoretically it could be sold, but I expect there are far more conversations to be had before we commit to that.”
No decision has yet been made on where the soldiers currently based at Fort George will be stationed, but Maj Gen Dickinson said that there would be at least five years notice before the troops were moved.
But Mr Hendry criticised the UK Government over the closures, claiming the accommodation was poor at Fort George because of under investment.
He added: “This announcement is much worse than we expected, with savage Tory cuts meaning the defence footprint will be cut by another 20% in Scotland.
“This follows months of us asking whether Fort George and other bases were under threat, yet we have had nothing but silence from the MoD.
“I long suspected this silence was, in fact, an attempt to avoid hearing our case for Fort George and Scotland. This announcement only confirms that.
“We have certainly not let them away with any of this and now we will do everything we can to force a U-turn on this shambles.”
Deputy First Minister John Swinney branded the cuts “brutal” and a “huge blow” to Scotland.
As well as Fort George, Glencorse Barracks, Penicuik and Redford Barracks in Edinburgh will close.
The airfield at RM Condor will also be shut, as will MoD Caledonia in Rosyth.
Other bases, including RAF Lossiemouth and Leuchars Station, which is home to an Army basing unit, will be expanded.
