Defence secretary announces £1.7bn investment for Scottish military bases

Scottish military bases are to be upgraded as part of a huge £1.7 billion investment programme.

The investment includes £1.3bn for upgrades to the waterfront, engineering support, accommodation and security at HM Naval Base Clyde, commonly known throughout the Navy as Faslane, in advance of the Dreadnought class of deterrent submarines arriving in Scotland from the early 2030s.

Lossiemouth is to benefit from £400 million as one of the RAF’s three fast jet bases, with work to upgrade its runways, taxiways and accommodation for nine new Poseidon P-8 maritime patrol aircraft and an additional Typhoon squadron.

Investment will also be made to expand Leuchars Station in Fife to become the main hub for army activity in Scotland.

UK defence secretary Sir Michael Fallon said the increased infrastructure spending reinforced the Ministry of Defence (MoD)’s commitment to Scotland.

He said: “Scotland is on the frontline of defending the United Kingdom from growing threats at sea, in the air and on land.

“Our commitment to the future of defence in Scotland is underlined by increasing investment in better infrastructure for the Armed Forces, helping to keep us safe.”

The MoD said its wider £178bn defence equipment programme supports 11,000 Scottish industry jobs and accounts for over 10% of the country’s industrial base across projects including the Queen Elizabeth carriers being built in Rosyth and the offshore patrol vessels and Type 26 global combat ships being built in Govan and Scotstoun.

Major Army bases at Fort George near Ardersier, north of Inverness, Glencorse Barracks near Penicuik, Midlothian, and Redford Cavalry and Infantry Barracks in Edinburgh are among more than 56 sites to shut across the UK.

Naval base MoD Caledonia in Rosyth, Fife, Condor Airfield, near Arbroath, Angus, Craigiehall Barracks in Edinburgh and Forthside Barracks in Stirling will also close.