Major Babcock investment at Sherford could reshape Plymouth's defence operations
A major new facility near Plymouth is expected to play an important role in Royal Navy submarine maintenance, with Babcock explaining how the Sherford development will support its future operations
Babcock has revealed further details of its planned logistics hub at Sherford, near Plymouth, which will bring together operations currently spread across more than 30 locations.
The 18.8-acre development, close to the A38, will support Babcock's work at Devonport Dockyard and is intended to increase capacity for maintaining Royal Navy submarines.
The engineering company plans to build a facility potentially covering 30,000 square metres as part of a wider investment in its Plymouth operations.
Babcock confirmed to The Moorlander that the project remains at the concept design stage, but said it aims to have the necessary infrastructure and logistics capability in place to “support the wider ambition for warfighting readiness by 2029”.
The company said the hub would bring together logistics activities currently “spread across more than 30 locations”.
It said the new facility would “optimise the use of space at Devonport, improve logistics coordination and increase operational capacity and resilience” in support of submarine maintenance and deep maintenance work.
Babcock said the development would help increase the number of submarines that can be maintained at Devonport, including supporting the “dual-streaming of Astute-class submarine maintenance and the transition to the Dreadnought programme”.
The company said the investment was about “retaining skilled jobs in Plymouth and the wider region”, as well as maintaining the “specialist workforce and industrial capability” needed to deliver the Royal Navy's current and future submarine programmes.
It added that the project would help strengthen the local supply chain, attract further investment and support long-term economic resilience.
Construction is expected to generate employment opportunities, although Babcock has not yet provided figures for the number of temporary or permanent jobs associated with the development.
The announcement follows a groundbreaking event attended by representatives from Babcock, South Hams District Council and the Plymouth and South Devon Freeport, alongside Rebecca Smith MP.
South Hams District Council bought the land from the Sherford Consortium in June 2025 for £3.4 million, using a government grant and council borrowing.
The authority has since entered into an agreement to sell the site to Babcock.
The site forms part of the Plymouth and South Devon Freeport's Sherford tax site, which is intended to attract investment and support business growth.
Babcock Nuclear chief executive Neal Misell said the development demonstrated the company's “long-term commitment to Plymouth and the wider region”.
He added that it would help develop the skills, capability and infrastructure needed to strengthen the UK's national defence resilience.