The 5th Division was reformed as an administrative division - effectively a military district - from Wales and Western Districts on 1 April 1995. It had its permanent headquarters at the Copthorne Barracks in Shrewsbury, Shropshire. It additionally inherited the units that had formerly made up South West District, that is, Headquarters Salisbury Plain Area and 43rd (Wessex) Brigade from 3rd Division on 1 April 1999.