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Faslane set for £15bn upgrade to increase 'warfighting readiness'

News imageMinistry of Defence A Vanguard class submarine, which is very dirty and stained, is on the surface with a Scottish backdrop. There are personnel on deck and tugs beside it on a sunny day with calm seas.Ministry of Defence
The UK's Vanguard-class missile submarines are based at Faslane

A £15bn modernisation of the Faslane naval base on the Clyde will support thousands of jobs in the west of Scotland, the UK government has said.

The revamp of the base, which houses the UK's nuclear submarine fleet, will be carried out over the next decade as part of the government's Project Royal Oak.

A further £11bn will be spent modernising the naval bases at Portsmouth and Devonport under the project, which was outlined in the government's recent Defence Investment Plan.

Speaking on a visit to Faslane in Helensburgh, Defence Minister Luke Pollard said it was the biggest investment in the UK's naval bases since the end of the Cold War.

He added that it would increase the readiness, availability and lethality of the Royal Navy.

Under the recent defence investment plan, the three bases will receive infrastructure improvements designed to increase "warfighting readiness".

Faslane is Scotland's largest military establishment and second largest employment site with over 6,500 military and civilian personnel.

The UK government said new training facilities, out-of-water engineering infrastructure, and research and development would be provided through the regeneration and upgrade programme.

Pollard also confirmed spending of more than £240m on RAF sustainment contracts in Scotland, which are expected to support more than 380 jobs.

News imageMinistry of Defence The Faslane naval base lit up at night. There is a Trident submarine in the Clyde next to the baseMinistry of Defence
The revamp of the Faslane base will be carried out over the next decade

Pollard added: "The threats facing the United Kingdom are real and they are growing.

"This government is not waiting – we are acting now to ensure our Royal Navy has the bases and infrastructure it needs to be ready to fight.

"This £26bn investment is the largest in our naval bases since the Cold War, and Scotland is central to it."

He added that Faslane was "critical to our nation's defence".

Meanwhile, the MoD has announced that it has completed the purchase of the Finnart oil terminal on Loch Long to increase the Royal Navy's capacity to store fuel.

In addition, £20m will be invested to revitalise Inchgreen Marine Park near Greenock, one of the UK's largest operational dry docks.

Scottish Labour deputy leader Dame Jackie Baillie said: "The UK Labour government is making record investment to help transform our armed forces to give them the funding and equipment they need to keep our country safe.

"In an increasingly dangerous and volatile world, that is good news for people right across the UK, including in Scotland, by ensuring we are better prepared to defend our nation.

"But it is also welcome for our armed services based at Faslane, and here in Scotland, as they will benefit from that investment, which will strengthen capability."