Rolls-Royce has selected Balfour Beatty as the construction partner for the fissile element of its Raynesway site expansion in Derby. The move follows the company’s plan to double the size of its submarine manufacturing facilities to meet increased Royal Navy demand and support future attack submarine programmes under the AUKUS trilateral agreement.
The expansion will include new manufacturing and office facilities and create more than 1,100 skilled roles across engineering, manufacturing, and technical disciplines. Work on the nuclear-licensed site requires enhanced safety and regulatory standards, with Balfour Beatty building on its existing involvement as a non-fissile construction partner to ensure continuity across the programme.
PROPEL is delivering design work, a joint venture between AtkinsRéalis and Mott MacDonald, for the fissile facilities, while WSP manages the non-fissile design components. Together, the collective of partners will implement the full Raynesway expansion.
Rolls-Royce Submarines employs over 5,000 staff and supplies pressurised water reactors for the Royal Navy’s submarine fleet. The company supports current Astute and Dreadnought programmes, provides global operational support from Derby, and maintains technical teams across Barrow-in-Furness, Devonport, Faslane, Glasgow, Cardiff, and Thurso.
The expansion reflects the company’s strategic focus on accelerating production, strengthening the UK’s defence infrastructure, and sustaining long-term submarine support capabilities.
