A new warehouse at Rosyth has received planning approval to support Babcock’s construction of the Royal Navy’s Type 31 frigates, reinforcing the long-term investment in UK shipbuilding infrastructure.
The facility, granted permission by Fife Council on 16 April under application reference 25/00355/FULL, will be a permanent single-storey warehouse fitted with two large Megadoors.
Designed to store major sections of the frigates between fabrication stages, the structure will be built on existing dockyard hardstanding west of Caledonia Road and will not require any changes to public road access or land use.
A Babcock spokesperson said: “The addition of this new storage facility is part of Babcock’s ongoing investment in Rosyth’s shipbuilding, technology and advanced manufacturing capability and capacity. It provides more flexible space, allows units to be kept under cover between build stages and ensures we continue to deliver a high-quality product to our customers.”
The investment comes as the Type 31 programme progresses steadily, with Rosyth serving as the hub for assembly and integration. But the question of what follows the current frigate batch is already being considered.
David Lockwood, CEO of @Babcockplc, lauded Rosyth’s world-class capabilities in a recent chat with @geoallison, highlighting progress on the Type 31. He noted the ability to deliver five warships in a decade and described the workforce’s mood as expectant about the future. pic.twitter.com/wfsaVTxTQs
— UK Defence Journal (@UKDefJournal) October 10, 2024
In a recent conversation, Babcock CEO David Lockwood told me that while future domestic shipbuilding opportunities will be shaped by the outcome of the UK’s ongoing Strategic Defence Review, the shipyard is well-positioned for continued work.
“Obviously we’re waiting in the UK for the outcome of the SDR, but this is a world-class shipyard, we’ll have a role to play.”
Beyond the Royal Navy’s needs, Lockwood also pointed to international interest in the Type 31 design, particularly from Sweden and other potential customers. “There are export orders that we are working on, such as Sweden. There are other export orders for the Type 31. So there’s a whole range of things that this yard can be doing after this batch.”
Such prospects underscore how Rosyth is not only delivering warships for the Royal Navy but may also become a key site for exports—ensuring that skills, jobs, and industrial capability are sustained beyond the current programme.
Lockwood described the workforce at Rosyth as “expectant”—eager to see what comes next and confident in their ability to deliver. With ongoing investment in infrastructure, such as the new warehouse, the shipyard is positioning itself to remain a cornerstone of the UK’s maritime industrial base for years to come.
‘Rosyth serving as the hub for assembly and integration’….for modules built at Ferguson?
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Ferguson Marine are Building some Blocks for the Type 26, not the Type 31.
Surely must be more 31s on the way then in the Defence Review. Cheap and effective – good way to add mass, especially as CSG escort, and support UK Far East, Caribbean and South Atlantic roles, with B2 Rivers
Sensible T31 option is Batch 2 (5 vessels 6-10), then Batch 3 (5 vessels 11-15), and as 13 commissions and 14 trials, you sell Batch 1s. Aim to always keep 10+ in the fleet.
Keeps fleet younger, no SLEPs, save long term waste
Continuous building programme, retains skills and expertise
You’d think it’d be quite easy to sell 13-14 year old frigates
They’ll go for less than 50 million, it’s of no benefit to us
World class?? Oh come on.
They must be pretty confident of additional contracts to be putting in this much investment. With MRSS still in the early stages and T32 still up in the air i increasingly think the SDR will sack off the latter in favour of additional T31’s, possibly a batch 2 incorporating a mission bay and other modifications.
Interestingly in 2023 NL published a Babcock T32 ‘multi-role’ concept; slightly lengthened T31 with bigger mission bay and stern ramp.
I honestly have for a long time thought that the T32 and MRSS will be rolled into a single program. It’s why I think we will get 6 MRSS and maybe a few more T31s thrown in as well. For essentially 20 frigates.. 8 T26, 8 T31 and 8MRSS.
Sorry I meant 6 MRSS..
Yes, given the demise of the LPDs and the long lead time and design debate for MRSS that looks like an idea whose time has come. The Babcock stretched T31 concept sacrifices some VLS and one 40mm for a larger and full width mission bay. It had a stern ramp and could possibly launch a mexflote off the side. Only one helo spot though, smaller flight deck. Otherwise a creative proposal.
Despite words I think if we get a good deal with USA Tariffs there may be opportunities with the USN. They are in big trouble trying to produce escorts at anything like a sufficient pace to match china.
About time we were treated to some nice new images of Venturer in a nice shiny grey or at least with the hull fully complete . He has a point though, five new ships within ten years is surely a first for us Brits ?
Of course in peacetime I mean….