Large-scale MOD investment includes HMNB Portsmouth
The Ministry of Defence has set out a £26 billion programme over the next ten years to modernise the United Kingdom’s three principal naval bases, including HMNB Portsmouth. The plan, published as part of the Defence Investment Plan, is described by the MOD as the biggest investment in naval infrastructure since the end of the Cold War.
Work at Portsmouth will join upgrades at HMNB Clyde and HMNB Devonport aimed at improving facilities for warfighting operations and increasing the Royal Navy’s operational readiness. The package covers a wide range of infrastructure projects, from waterfront and docking works to accommodation, training buildings and out-of-water engineering facilities.
What this means for Portsmouth
For residents and businesses in Portsmouth, the announcement is likely to have several direct consequences:
- Construction and maintenance opportunities — large-scale works to docks and waterfront infrastructure will create contracts for local firms and supply chains.
- Personnel accommodation — the plan includes new Single Living Accommodation, which will affect service housing demand in and around the city.
- Long-term naval presence — investment seeks to enhance the base’s ability to support frontline operations, reinforcing Portsmouth’s centrality to the Royal Navy.
The MOD framed the spending as a response to rising security pressures and part of a wider defence investment envelope totalling £298 billion. The department says the work will strengthen the Royal Navy’s readiness and availability and increase lethality where required.
“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,”
The remark was made by the Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry, who added that the programme will secure thousands of jobs across the country. The MOD also highlighted enhanced training and research and development facilities as part of the upgrade package.
Scope of the announced works
While the announcement gives an overall financial envelope and lists broad types of works, the MOD has not published a detailed breakdown of how the £26 billion will be apportioned between the three bases. The public material specifies several categories of investment that will be seen across the programme:
| Area | Planned works |
|---|---|
| Docking & waterfront | Upgrades to ports, quays and harbour infrastructure |
| Buildings | New and refurbished operational and support buildings |
| Accommodation | New Single Living Accommodation for personnel |
| Engineering & training | Out-of-water engineering facilities, training and R&D capability |
Local authorities, maritime suppliers and Portsmouth businesses involved in construction and defence support will be watching for procurement timetables and opportunities as individual projects are developed. The programme is presented by the MOD as part of a strategic push to improve the Armed Forces’ capacity to respond to contemporary threats.
Further detail on specific contracts, timelines and the distribution of funds between bases is expected to follow as the MOD moves from the high-level investment plan to project-level planning and procurement.
