Faslane set for GBP15 billion upgrade - UK government
More than £15 billion will be spent transforming Faslane over the next decade, the UK government has announced.
HMNB Clyde, which houses the UK's nuclear submarines, will receive £15.1 billion in a move expected to support thousands of jobs.
It is part of the £26 billion Project Royal Oak investment programme into critical UK naval bases which defence minister Luke Pollard said will increase the "readiness, availability and lethality" of the Royal Navy.
On a visit to Faslane on Tuesday, he said it is the biggest upgrade of the UK's naval bases since the end of the Cold War.
Agreed under the recent defence investment plan, HMNB Clyde – along with HMNB Devonport and HMNB Portsmouth in the south of England – will receive infrastructure improvements designed to increase "warfighting-readiness".
New training facilities, out-of-water engineering infrastructure, and research and development will be provided through the regeneration and upgrade programme, the government said.
Pollard also confirmed more than £240 million in RAF sustainment contracts in Scotland, which are expected to support more than 380 jobs.
Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander said: "Scotland is crucial to UK defence and this £15.3 billion UK government funding for some of our most critical military assets will make Britain safer at home, stronger abroad and deliver a defence dividend for Scottish communities.
"As home to the Royal Navy Submarine Service and the UK's nuclear deterrent, it's only right that Faslane – Scotland's largest military establishment and second-biggest employment site with over 6,500 military and civilian personnel – will be transformed with £15.1 billion defence investment plan funding into a modern, more efficient base, future-proofed for war-fighting.
"This, along with a further £240 million being confirmed to keep RAF Lossiemouth-based aircraft mission-ready, means we are investing in the capabilities, infrastructure and people that keep us and our allies safe, while creating and supporting jobs and driving economic growth across Scotland for years to come."
Pollard, the minister for defence readiness & industry, added: "The threats facing the UK 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 £26 billion investment is the largest in our naval bases since the Cold War, and Scotland is central to it.
"Clyde is critical to our nation's defence. This investment is securing thousands of jobs up and down the country and strengthening our Armed Forces for the challenges of today and the future."
Meanwhile, the MoD announced 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, £20 million will be invested to revitalise Inchgreen Marine Park near Greenock, one of the UK's largest operational dry docks.
Scottish Labour deputy leader 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.
"Not only by ensuring that they have cutting edge technology for generations to come, this funding will also help support more than half a million jobs across the UK by the end of the decade."
By Craig Meighan, Press Association Scotland Political Reporter
Press Association: News
source: PA
Copyright 2026 Alliance News Ltd. All Rights Reserved.