Babcock to relocate staff amid regeneration plans

The plans are part of an approach to support regional regeneration across the UK

Defence company Babcock has announced plans to move more than 2,000 members of its workforce from the Devonport Royal Dockyard facility to a city centre base.

Employees from some of the Devonport support functions would be moved into a new centre in Plymouth to "help boost collaboration, foster wider prosperity and support defence delivery", bosses said.

The plans were part of an approach to support regional regeneration across the UK, they added.

There is no specific date or timeline for the move but the company said it was set to transform a disused building into a new work space for the relocating staff.

Babcock CEO David Lockwood said: "Our ambitious blueprint for Plymouth is a model for regional regeneration and one we are committed to delivering.

"As a strategic partner to government, for every pound spent on defence, our community of passionate people are delivering back and we value the things that matter to our customers, colleagues and communities."

'Real show of confidence'

Commenting on Babcock's announcement, Luke Pollard MP for Plymouth Sutton and Devonport, said: "This is good news for the city centre and Devonport.

"Plymouth City Council and I have been working with Babcock for many months on their plan to create more jobs and invest in skills in our city.

"The plans announced today are an important first step towards the multimillion-pound investment in the city centre.

"Thousands of new homes, an updated public realm - like Armada Way - and hundreds of new jobs created - this is how we'll make our city centre vibrant again."

Councillor Tudor Evans, Leader of Plymouth City Council, said: "This is a really significant moment for Plymouth and I'm absolutely thrilled.

"Babcock's plans to bring over 2,000 people into the heart of our city centre will have a huge ripple effect - not just in terms of jobs but in how people live, eat, shop and enjoy the city.

"It means more people living locally, supporting our cafés, restaurants, shops and cultural venues and helping to create a vibrant city centre economy.

"Alongside the new Capability Centre, the dedicated Centre for Engineering and Nuclear Skills and the facilities within the Freeport, this is a real show of confidence in Plymouth's future."