The Ministry of Defence has confirmed it has not yet selected locations for the six “always on” munitions and energetics factories promised in the Strategic Defence Review, telling peers that decisions on where they will be built remain under consideration.
Lord Beamish asked ministers what discussions had taken place with local and combined authorities and industry in the North East about hosting one of the proposed sites.
In response, Defence Minister Lord Coaker repeated that the department is still working through its options. He said it was “vital we invest our defence spending across UK whenever possible to grow our economy and industrial base” and noted that the MoD spent £178 million in the region in 2024 to 2025.
He added that the government had committed “£1.5 billion in the Strategic Defence Review to move munitions production to ‘always on’ and build six new munitions and energetics factories”, but that arrangements, including potential locations, were “carefully considering” and further detail would follow.
Beamish also asked whether ministers had assessed the possible value of placing one of the plants in the North East as part of efforts to address regional economic imbalances. Coaker offered the same answer, again stressing that investment would be spread across the UK and repeating the government’s commitment to the six-factory programme.
A third question sought clarity on when the government expects to announce the chosen sites and whether it will publish the criteria used for selection. Coaker replied that the MoD is still evaluating options and that “more detail will be set out in due course”, but provided no timing or indication of whether selection criteria will be made public.
Just Imagine the Thousands of Meetings, discussion groups and Proposals this will take.
N.I.M.B.Y.
Just about every thing to do with the MOD is under review, or just not going any where why? is it a money problem?, a lack of will power problem or just smoke and mirrors and really nothing is getting done and lets just down and kick most of it in to the long grass. Story after story of later, in a few years , not now under review its shame ful.
Now the senior Politburo member stated “we are on a war footing” a few months ago. So please trust Comrade TT the Dear Leader. We will, by 2035 have one “factory” turning out 250 live rounds of 5.56 per month.
Guardian says government looking at 12 potential sites and wants to build 6 munitions factories for 1000 workers. Factory to be always ‘on’ .
How many years to decide a choice that could be made in a month.
What’s the matter with all the old factory sites forgot they were sold off as not required.
As always, industry takes precedence over military capability with the defence budget.
” Vital we invest our defence spending widely whenever possible to grow our economy and industrial base”
Meanwhile, Reeves trashes it at the other end, and the forces, despite “seeing the greatest expansion in defence spending since the Cold War” are receiving WHAT exactly that wasn’t already planned?
SIA into the 2.5.
Ukraine in the 2.5.
Chagos 35 billion in the 2.5. Yes, Jim, it’s not a mere 3 billion, and even if it was, why are we paying.
Afghan rehoming, another 2.5 billion.
Astrea, 15 billion.
Tempest, 12 billion.
SSN dismantling, no idea actually assume that’s also another voice eating at the defence table.
Guess who is rock bottom of the list?
Meanwhile, Poland just had another batch of K9 Thunder delivered while we muse on RCH155, maybe this decade, maybe not.
Charlatans, the lot of you.
The truth is that despite everything, the Ministry of Defence and the Treasury are still covertly operating a Ten Year Rule.
Build it on existing UK MoD land and ignore planning controls as its critical for the nation.