Defence · Spending & procurement · 7 November 2026
Navantia opens new fabrication hall at Belfast shipyard
Navantia UK has opened a new fabrication hall at the Harland & Wolff site in Belfast. The Ministry of Defence announced the facility is part of a £157 million investment programme across four UK shipyards. The project supports 900 skilled jobs and apprenticeships in the city.
The Ministry of Defence announced that Navantia UK has opened the Resurgent Hall at the Harland & Wolff site in Belfast. The new facility is part of a £157 million investment programme spanning the company’s four UK shipyards. Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry Luke Pollard MP said: "Belfast continues with its proud shipbuilding history by building the modern shipbuilding capability the country needs today, with this new fabrication hall at the heart of it."
The hall adds 5,000 square metres of fabrication space equipped with new cranes, robotic plasma-cutting technology, and a mechanised panel line. It will support the construction of three new Fleet Solid Support ships for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary. Under the plans, the project supports 900 skilled jobs and apprenticeships in Belfast. Figures published with the announcement show that around £100 million is being invested in Belfast alone as part of the programme.
Defence investment in Northern Ireland’s industry rose by 63% in real terms in 2025/26 to reach £464 million. The Ministry of Defence spent £460 million in Northern Ireland in the last year. Minister for Northern Ireland Sarah Owen stated: "This impressive facility is a key milestone in the UK Government's Fleet Solid Support (FSS) programme, which has invested around £100 million in Belfast alone."
The announcement does not specify a completion date for the three new ships. It also does not detail the specific timeline for the full rollout of the £157 million investment across the other three UK shipyards.
Written by StreetOwl from Ministry of Defence’s own announcement. It was drafted by StreetOwl’s own model, every figure and quotation was checked by code against the announcement, and it was read and approved by Michael Rossi before it went up. It says what was announced, not what anyone should do about it.
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