The naval bases, currently home to most of the Royal Navy's fleet of surface ships will maintain their world class status with Portsmouth becoming the home of two new aircraft carriers, the largest warships ever to be built in the UK. The conclusion follows the announcement of an agreed budget for defence for the next three years, which included the decision to buy the new carriers. The review also concluded that the Clyde Naval Base in Scotland should be retained.
For hundreds of years Portsmouth and Plymouth have evolved to meet the changing requirements of the Royal Navy. Further work will now be carried out to determine how to optimise the performance of each of these historic bases to ensure that they continue to support the needs of the front line.
Minister for the Armed Forces, Bob Ainsworth, said:
"I'm pleased to announce that the Naval Bases at Clyde, Devonport and Portsmouth will lead the Royal Navy and Defence into the future with the new aircraft carriers. We are not only preserving history; we are also writing it."
"The aim of the review was to ensure that we have the right naval base infrastructure to meet the needs of the future Fleet. The Review has looked in great detail at the manpower, skills, infrastructure and future requirement at each naval base, and has concluded that the best option for defence - and each of the local areas - is to keep all three open.
Further work will now be carried out to determine how to optimise the performance of each of these historic bases to ensure that they continue to support the needs of the front line. This work will take place in conjunction with the Transforming Submarine Support (TSS) and Transforming Ship Support (TSSS) initiatives. These change programmes are designed to ensure the bases and the Royal Navy are prepared to meet the demands of the future fleet.
