£250m defence boost for Plymouth

CITY NAMED KEY NATIONAL DEFENCE GROWTH AREA

- By WILLIAM TELFORD

PLYMOUTH is set to share in £250m of Government investment after being named one of five key defence growth cities.

Defence Secretary John Healey named Britain's Ocean City, alongside Cardiff, Belfast, Glasgow and Sheffield, as part of the new Defence Industrial Strategy (DIS).

Plymouth, home to the largest naval base in Western Europe, will receive investment over the next decade, including in maritime autonomy. Mr Healey said the Defence Growth Deals plan would make the UK the best place in the world to start and grow a defence company while putting Britain “at the leading edge of innovation.

He said: "Defence Growth Deals offer a new partnership with UK Defence to build on industrial and innovation strengths that regions already hold. Together we aim to drive an increase in defence skills, SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises) and jobs across all four nations."

The deals will bring together businesses, local and national government, and academia to foster innovation and drive investment. The Government said early analysis suggests there could be demand for up to 50,000 additional defence jobs by 2034/35 as spending increases.

Organisations that form Team Plymouth, formally called Growth Alliance Plymouth, welcomed the designation saying it could unlock “unprecedented opportunities” for economic development, innovation and community prosperity. Team Plymouth aims to strengthen collaboration between key organisations, foster innovation and create high-quality jobs.

It said the strategic partnership positions Plymouth to lead in defence, marine autonomy, and advanced manufacturing, securing its place at the forefront of national resilience and regional renewal.

The Defence Growth Deal investment in Plymouth will support initiatives including: