Devonport has an unprecedented and unrivalled level of long-term security for its work programme following the Government’s announcement that it will build up to 12 more nuclear-powered submarines, Council leader Tudor Evans says.
“The Prime Minister’s announcement in the Strategic Defence Review means Devonport’s work programme is secure until 2070 or 2080, which is incredible given that in years gone by we’ve had to deal with fluctuating workloads and workforce and to fight hard to ensure Plymouth gets it fair share through the Devonport Task Force,” Councillor Evans said.
“I don’t think there is another part of the country that can claim this level of certainty in workloads for decades to come.
“Plymouth is already on the brink of a once-in-a-generation transformation with the £4.4 billion Government investment in Devonport over the next decade and this latest announcement gives us even more impetus to ensure we grasp this opportunity for the whole city and sub-region.
“Now we’ve made the case for Devonport and got the long-term security we need, we have the welcome challenge of filling jobs with workers from the city and across the region, by providing new opportunities to give them the skills to take these jobs and homes for them and their families to live in.”
Devonport is already linchpin in the UK’s defence capabilities, supporting both the surface and submarine fleets and carrying out some of the most complex engineering and infrastructure programmes in the country.
Over the next decade Plymouth will see a surge of investment and development driven by the Government’s investment in Devonport as part of its commitment to the UK’s continuous at sea deterrent.
It is anticipated that Babcock’s Devonport facility will need to recruit 5,500 new employees over the next 10 years—alongside 2,000 construction workers to support its expanding infrastructure programme.
Councillor Evans added: “The numbers are big, which means we need to think big to make sure we grasp the massive opportunities this brings to Plymouth. This is why we have a bold vision for regeneration of the city centre that will see the creation of up to 10,000 new homes and why we have teamed up with Babcock International Group, the Royal Navy, our partners through the Growth Alliance Plymouth (GAP) on a shared mission to ensure the city can support and sustain this scale of growth.
“It is why Homes England have now identified Plymouth as a priority place for investment and are working with us to bring forward a pipeline of thousands of new homes.
“It is also why the creation of a new City College Plymouth campus in the Civic Centre building will be so important in ensuring we can home grow the skills that will be needed at Devonport.”
Major economic study
The City Council, working as part of Growth Alliance Plymouth, has commissioned a major economic study to help the city prepare for the opportunities and challenges arising from an investment programme worth in excess of £4.4 billion at HM Naval Base Devonport and Babcock’s Devonport Royal Dockyard. Read more