A bid to expand MoD Stafford has been unanimously supported by councillors – paving the way for more than 1,000 soldiers to call the town home.

The Army plans to revamp the Beacon Barracks.

And this was given the green light by Stafford Bourough councillors at a special meeting of the planning committee yesterday.

Under the plans there will be 1,200 soldiers moving to the town along with 500 families when a new Army brigade re-locates in 2015.

The planning committee was told the plans by the MoD would bring huge economic benefits to the town through the spending power of the new families as well as an increase in local jobs.

Councillors were told concerns over the impact of extra traffic on local roads and at Junction 14 of the M6 had now been addressed.

Doug Davis, cabinet member for regeneration in Stafford said: “This will be an enormous economic stimulus to the town.”

The approved application will see the MoD build 29 new buildings and make changes to 11.