News story

New accommodation for Scottish naval base

£31.5 million is to be invested in improving facilities for Service personnel at Her Majesty's Naval Base Clyde.

• From: Ministry of Defence, Defence Infrastructure Organisation, and The Rt Hon Dr Andrew Murrison MP
• Published: 23 August 2013

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

HM Naval Base Clyde (stock image)

The investment will provide new accommodation for personnel working and serving their country at the Faslane base, which is the largest employment site in Scotland, supporting 6,700 military and civilian jobs, increasing to 8,200 by 2022.

The new funding was revealed by the Defence Minister for International Security Strategy, Dr Andrew Murrison, during a visit to Scotland to meet defence stakeholders and take the salute at the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo. The announcement will increase the number of bed spaces on the Clyde base by around 600 to support its role as the home of the UK submarine fleet.

Aerial shot of HM Naval Base Clyde (library image) [Picture: Petty Officer (Photographer) Donny Osmond, Crown copyright]

Dr Murrison said:

This new funding is a clear and visible sign of our commitment to Scotland and its continued vital role in the defence of the UK.

The total number of Armed Forces personnel in Scotland is increasing and I want to ensure that they get the best possible accommodation and facilities. These substantial investments could not be guaranteed under an independent Scotland so it is clear we are safer and more secure together as a United Kingdom.

A sailor moves into a newly-built accommodation block at HM Naval Base Clyde (library image) [Picture: Leading Airman (Photographer) T 'Tel' Boughton, Crown copyright]

This investment in the base demonstrates the government’s commitment to Scotland and builds on a series of significant investments. These include £100 million to create new and improved Army accommodation and facilities across Scotland and £85 million for the development of RAF Lossiemouth. The funding is also in addition to the £140 million the Ministry of Defence spends on average maintaining the defence estate in Scotland.

Published 23 August 2013