Rolls-Royce selects design partner for Raynesway site expansion

Rolls-Royce has announced its design partner for a major project to double the size of its submarines site in Derby.

Last June, it was announced that the engineering giant would increasing the size of its Raynesway site in order to meet the growth in demand from the Royal Navy, and as a result of the AUKUS announcement.

The project will see new manufacturing and office facilities being built and will create 1,170 skilled roles across a range of disciplines, including manufacturing and engineering.

Multi-disciplinary professional services consultancy WSP will design these new facilities and the infrastructure that links the site together.

Terry Meighan, infrastructure director at Rolls-Royce Submarines, said: “AUKUS won’t be delivered by one or two companies. It will take strong partnerships across the whole supply chain to meet the increased demands for the critical work we do.

“Selecting WSP as our design partner is the start of our journey to meeting the demands placed on us.

“Throughout the procurement process WSP stood out when demonstrating their technical capability, capacity and culture.

“Importantly, they also shared our vision and commitment to delivering our commitments to the MoD and the wider AUKUS agreement.”

The next milestone in Rolls-Royce’s 10-year expansion programme is to select the construction partner, who will bring WSP’s designs to life.

They will be tasked with building the manufacturing and office facilities and the adjoining site infrastructure. The winning firm will be announced in the coming weeks.

Rolls-Royce Submarines currently employs more than 4,500 people and designs, manufactures and provides in-service support to the pressurised water reactors that power every boat in the Royal Navy’s submarine fleet.