An initial £250 million of funding over three years will support “jobs, skills and growth”.
Plans have been unveiled for the “multi-decade” work at the Faslane base which is the Royal Navy’s main presence north of the Border.
The move is announced as part of the UK Government’s Spending Review nuclear strategy that includes the £14.2 billion investment to build Sizewell C plant in Suffolk.
Across defence, the UK Government said: “To secure the UK as a leader in both civil and defence nuclear, the government will also be investing £4bn over the next decade in the Plymouth naval base as well as continued long-term investment in our Defence Nuclear Enterprise and its industrial base, as this is critical for our national security while also being a significant generator of economic opportunities, jobs and growth across the entire country.”
It also said: “Further investments in the defence nuclear sector include over £6bn over the Spending Review period to enable a transformation in the capacity, capability and productivity of the UK’s submarine industrial base, including at BAE Systems in Barrow and Rolls-Royce Submarines in Derby – to deliver the increase in the submarine production rate announced in the Strategic Defence Review.
“In addition, we will embark on a multi-decade, multi-billion redevelopment of HMNB Clyde, with an initial £250m of funding over three years, supporting jobs, skills and growth across the West of Scotland.”
Rachel Reeves, Chancellor of the Exchequer, said: “We are once again investing in Britian’s renewal, with the biggest nuclear building programme in a generation.
“We are creating thousands of jobs, kickstarting economic growth and putting more money people’s pockets.”
The announcement prompted the GMB Scotland union to urge Holyrood ministers to support nuclear.
Louise Gilmour, GMB Scotland secretary, said: “New nuclear can help provide a baseload of safe, clean and secure energy while creating thousands of skilled, well-paid, unionised jobs in Scotland.
“The Holyrood government’s absolute refusal to seriously consider its potential is an abdication of responsibility and needs to change.
“It makes no sense if ministers want to achieve net zero targets and it makes no sense if they want Scotland’s economy to grow again.”
John Swinney, First Minister, said earlier he disagrees with calls for the party to step back from its longstanding objection to nuclear weapons and that “we need to have the capacity to enable us to defend ourselves … with conventional weapons”.
The energy sector union said the nuclear industry supports almost 3,700 jobs in Scotland, adding £400m to the economy.
The new “Clyde 2070 programme represents one of the most significant and sustained UK Government investments in Scotland over the coming decades”. It said it demonstrates commitment to UK defence and bringing the economic, skills and employment benefits to Scotland, “driving defence as an engine for economic growth and supporting the government’s Plan for Change”.
The £250m allocated immediately for the next three years “will help adapt and improve the working environment and infrastructure at the site, preparing it to welcome the new Dreadnought Class of deterrent submarines and SSN-AUKUS, the Royal Navy’s next generation of attack submarines”.
The Defence Nuclear Enterprise – the partnership of organisations that operate, maintain, renew and sustain the UK’s nuclear deterrent as part of a national endeavour – is “investing to sustain the deterrent for as long as required”.
Ian Murray, Scottish Secretary, said: “This extra £250m investment for HMNB Clyde is another fantastic example of how Scotland is at the heart of the UK defence policy.
“As home of the Royal Navy Submarine Service – including the UK’s nuclear deterrent – HMNB Clyde will play a crucial role for decades to come as we restore Britain’s readiness, deter our adversaries and help drive economic growth across the UK, as part of our Plan for Change.
HM Naval Base Clyde at Faslane on the Gareloch.
“Over 6,500 military and civilian personnel are employed at HMNB Clyde, making it the second largest employment site in Scotland, with a total of around 25,600 jobs across Scotland supported by an annual multi-billion pound Ministry of Defence investment.”
John Healey, Defence Secretary, said: “We have an unwavering commitment to our nuclear-powered submarines. The long-term, sustained investment for HMNB Clyde will provide the infrastructure necessary to keep our submarines maintained and at sea – continuing to protect us around the clock.
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