Babcock to open Plymouth city centre hub for 2000 staff

Babcock has confirmed the location of a new Capability Centre in Plymouth city centre, with up to 2,000 employees set to relocate from Devonport, according to the company.

The facility will be based at 40–46 Royal Parade, the former House of Fraser site, marking a significant shift of defence-related roles into the heart of the city, according to the company.

The move is intended to free up space at Devonport Royal Dockyard for expanding Ministry of Defence programmes, while also supporting wider regeneration and economic activity in Plymouth.

“Securing a location for our new off-site facility is a significant milestone,” said Harry Holt, Chief Executive of Babcock Nuclear. “Importantly, it will strengthen the capabilities required to deliver this critical work in the defence of our nation.”

He added that the project would support “high-quality jobs, strengthening Plymouth’s economy and accelerating regeneration in the city centre.”

The plans, first announced in 2025, form part of a broader effort to expand capacity at Devonport, where significant investment is underway to support nuclear and defence programmes.

Relocating staff to the new site is expected to increase city centre footfall and support local businesses, while reinforcing Plymouth’s role as a key hub for defence engineering and support.

Local MP Luke Pollard described the move as “a huge vote of confidence… in our regeneration plans and the future of defence here,” adding that it would create space at Devonport for “billions of pounds being invested in new defence infrastructure, equipment, and capability.”

Defence Minister Lord Coaker said the investment would “help cement Plymouth’s status as a nationally significant hub for defence, engineering and innovation.”

The announcement builds on Plymouth’s designation as a National Defence Growth Area and follows a wider £4.4 billion Ministry of Defence investment in Devonport.