Gloucestershire will benefit from a £50 million cash boost when new troops take their place at the currently unoccupied RAF Innsworth site.

The Nato Allied Rapid Reaction Corps (ARRC) will move to the base in 2010, bringing hundreds of troops and their families to the county.

Gloucester MP Parmjit Dhanda says the corps will be a great addition to the county.

"A multi million-pound boost to the economy is very welcome. We have a proud military tradition in Gloucester so the ARRC will be welcome," Mr Dhanda said.

With £33 million already pledged to update the base, which will be renamed Imjin Barracks next week, the ARRC looks set to bring up to £15 million more to shops and other businesses in and around the area.

ARRC commander Lieuten- ant General Richard Shirreff said the move to Innsworth was heavily anticipated.

"We are in no doubt that Gloucester is being extremely welcoming," he said.

"It is a great part of England and as far as the base is concerned we could not hope for a better headquarters.

"We will bring a multi-national community and there will be a degree of variety.

"We hope we have something to offer in terms of engagement between us and the local community."

As part of the refurbishment, offices, accommodation and a nursery will be built before the transfer of troops.

Lt Gen Shirreff said although the ARRC's base in Rheindahlen, Germany, has sports facilities on site, those surrounding Innsworth still had much to offer.

He said: "There are a number of projects. We will be looking to work closely with the community, to relocate some of our welfare facilities such as schools and mother and toddler groups."

Initially up to 450 ARRC troops, along with 300 support members, will be moving to Innsworth with their families.

Speaking at the ARRC Arrcade Fusion operation in Sennelager, adviser Lord Ashdown said the move would have a big impact on the ARRC and the county.

He said: "The truth is, in economic terms it will be very important to Innsworth and the area. There will also be, I hope, a sense of real pride because they can see for themselves what is happening.

"One of the most important parts of ARRC is that it is multinational. Perhaps it will give the public in Innsworth and Gloucester a sense of what an operation like this does and a sense of pride that they are there."

Brigadier General Michael Ryan is in charge of the American contingent who will be moving with the ARRC.

He said: "Many of us have only been to the UK as tourists. There are very few American army personnel in England – we will be bringing more than 30 troops with their families."

Brig Gen Ryan said the Americans would also be bringing home comforts to Innsworth in the form of a hot dog and pizza stand.

A group of soldiers' wives will be heading to the county in the next few months to find out more about schools, shops and houses.

He said: "A soldier will be happy if his family is happy, and I am confident they will be happy with what they find."

Tewkesbury borough councillor for Innsworth Bill Whelan has been involved in bringing the move.

He said: "We will have a vibrant community and it will be big for the whole area around Innsworth.

"The schools are already gearing up to cope with multinational children. A lot of the families from non-English- speaking nations will be living around the base."