The government has confirmed that none of the six new munitions factories announced as part of the Strategic Defence Review have begun construction, with feasibility study contracts not yet placed and investment decisions not expected until the third quarter of 2026.
Conservative MP James Cartlidge tabled three questions asking what progress had been made on delivering the six factories, whether construction had begun on the first, and how many had begun construction.
Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry Luke Pollard gave the same answer to all three, stating that feasibility studies were planned to be contracted in spring 2026 and to conclude in August 2026, and that the MoD intended to announce investments in quarter 3 2026 “with a view to beginning construction of the first factories before the end of the year.”
The answer confirms that no construction has begun, that contracts for the feasibility studies which will inform investment decisions have not yet been placed, and that investment announcements are still months away. If the timeline holds, construction of the first factories would begin at the earliest in the final months of 2026.
The six munitions factories were announced as part of the Strategic Defence Review as a significant step toward rebuilding the UK’s domestic munitions production base in the context of sustained demand for ammunition created by the war in Ukraine and as part of a broader effort to ensure the UK could sustain military operations and reduce reliance on external supply chains.
Construction of industrial facilities requires significant planning and feasibility work before ground can be broken, and the programme remains at an early stage.
If the wider public cared about defence this would be a scandal to bring down a Government.
Two years into a Parliament and no sign of the DIP or this promised build.
It will get worse if Labour get hammered in the local elections as they will try and ditch Starmer , and the alternatives would be even more incapable. Can’t see defence getting more money under a harder left administration who would spend the next two years bribing benefit claimants to vote for them.
The MoD has not yet done feasibility studies on factory locations? Feasibility studies to be contracted out? Why? Surely ‘Defence Estates’ have people who could do feasibility studies.
I thought they should all be half-built by now!
We are ruled by people whose only interest is courting votes and pushing agenda’s
Those MP’s who have sat behind a PM over the last 40 years and said nothing should be the first on the firing line if a conflict erupts.
The bull that comes from Pollard over the last months. Did anyone honestly think these 6 munitions factories will go ahead.
I cN see the DIP being scrapped under the pretence it’s out of date.
Construction will not start until end of 2027 unless the sites already have planning permission and DEFRA permits. The permits and permissions cannot be applied for until the design is completed which hasnt been done in UK since WW2. For a project of this size there will also be considerable MOD approval needed. Why doesnt Defence Industry put its own hand in its own pocket and build themselves instead of waiting for tax payer cash to further increase their profits. It was announced too early, as always with labour. The only thing they jave achieved is to tax thw working with VAT on school fees. They shlould be proud.
Go on then, who actually voted for these clowns ? 🤔😁
Absolute joke. Liebour are a disaster. Not like there’s multiple wars going on right now, with 1 being in Europe and going to be a third with china invading Taiwan at some point.
Russia has a higher chance of invading the Baltics in the next 5 years then even one of these factories being built in the same timeframe.
But than again its Labour, got to save money for union pay rises and migrant benefits
It’s a good thing we are on a war footing and working at pace because I would be worried.