'Upgraded facilities' set for Upper Harbour Ammunitioning Facility in HMNB Portsmouth ahead of big investment

Vital enhancements are being made at Portsmouth Naval Base ahead of major investment programme for the site.

A planning application submitted to Portsmouth City Council shows that a structure is due to be updated at HMNB Portsmouth. The local authority said the application, under Regulation 77 of the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017, is for the “construction of replacement generator building”.

Drawings and floorplans of the structure have been unveiled to the public via the local authority’s website. A Royal Navy spokesperson said “additional upgrades facilities” will also be made available to personnel.

“As the power supplies have reached the end of their design life, the replacement will provide a modern and fully automatic power generation system with additional upgraded facilities for personnel,” they added. “The new system will be capable of operating in both manual and automatic modes.”

Planned upgrades for the future

Significant investment into HMNB Portsmouth was outlined in the Defence Investment Plan (Dip). The document said Project Royal Oak will see “the biggest naval base upgrade for over 45 years”, with £26bn allocated for enhancements at HMNB Portsmouth, HMNB Faslane in Scotland, and HMNB Devonport in Plymouth.

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In the first four years of the plan, the Dip also said technical capital works will be taking place. This includes new munitions infrastructure works in Gosport. Major projects outlined in the programme include building “an oil fuel jetty at Portsmouth to support naval operations and commencement of the rebuild of the Fountain Lake Jetty in Portsmouth”.

Outlining later investments, it added: “Between 2030 and 2035, we plan to invest at least £51bn across the Defence estate. Infrastructure spending will remain focused on delivering a balanced estate that enables the Integrated Force to live, work, and train in a manner appropriate to the demands we place upon them.

“Investment will continue through a broad portfolio of UK and overseas programmes, with Project Royal Oak sustaining and enhancing core maritime infrastructure. Critical capabilities will be supported, including the surface fleet in Portsmouth, combat air through replacement of runways and taxiways, Army barracks.”