Navy

Groundwork Begins On Successor Submarine Site

Groundwork has begun on Barrow's £130 milllion submarines' Central Yard Complex.

The work is part of an overall £300m investment into the town's shipyard, which was announced by defence contractor BAE Systems last year in anticipation of the next generation of UK nuclear submarines.

Prime Minister David Cameron confirmed earlier this week that Britain will order four new Successor submarines to replace the Vanguard-class of nuclear subs.

Construction is expected to take up to eight years and create thousands of new jobs.

The work on the Central Yard Complex is the first step of the site's redevelopment programme. It's expected to be ready for operational use by the end of 2017.

The Central Yard Complex will be used to outfit the Successor submarines, housing around 800 staff, and will include a new manufacturing facility and adjacent paint shop

Project manager Phil Aspden was quoted as saying in the North-West Evening Mail:

"The commencement of the Central Yard Complex work is the culmination of three years’ planning and preparation.

"It marks a milestone as the first major development on the site in many years.

"The 10-strong BAE Systems project team, who all have roots in the local area, are committed to delivering a building which will secure submarine boat building capability in the yard for the next 25 years and beyond."

"The Central Yard Complex is the first major development within the shipyard as part of the eight-year site redevelopment programme."

The construction of the building is set to use 50,000 metres of piling and 8,000 tonnes of steelwork - almost the weight of an Astute class submarine.