This is the first time Defence Estates, the Ministry of Defence's (MoD) property arm, has outsourced a major facilities management contract in Germany to a private sector partner.

Babcock will maintain buildings and grounds at 12 sites occupied by British forces, predominantly in the German states of Lower Saxony and North Rhine-Westphalia.

"Babcock has worked closely with Defence Estates to develop a cost-effective and flexible solution, capable of evolving in response to the significant changes planned to the MoD footprint as service personnel return to the UK," the company said in a statement on Friday.