A written response in Parliament has confirmed that the UK Ministry of Defence is actively evaluating multiple locations for the country’s permanent submarine dismantling and disposal facility.
Responding to MP Graeme Downie, Defence Minister Luke Pollard stated that the demonstrator submarine HMS Swiftsure continues to be dismantled at Rosyth and remains on schedule for completion in 2026. Pollard also noted that six additional legacy submarines are awaiting dismantling at Rosyth.
These vessels, together with the 15 retired submarines currently stored at Devonport, form the initial batch being addressed under the Submarine Dismantling Project (SDP).
Pollard confirmed that the UK’s long-term solution will be delivered through a separate effort, the Submarine Disposal Capability Project (SDCP), which is still in its concept phase. He explained that the ministry is “assessing options for the capability and its location, with various sites under consideration across the UK,” adding that Parliament will be informed once a final decision is ready.
This approach aligns with the operational pressures currently facing the Defence Nuclear Enterprise. Rosyth can only process a limited number of hulls at a time, while Devonport remains heavily engaged in defuelling, refit programs, and major safety-driven upgrades. Both facilities also face regulatory and environmental capacity constraints.
Since 2013, the broader SDP has been tasked with safely managing 27 retired submarines, removing both radioactive and conventional waste while refining methods as it progresses. The dismantling of Swiftsure has already contributed to improved procedures, and the MoD reports that subsequent submarines will undergo faster and more cost-effective waste removal.
The Swiftsure project has demonstrated that the process works, but the long-term question remains: where should the UK establish a permanent facility capable of handling decommissioned submarines on a rolling, multi-decade basis? Pollard’s statement confirms that this decision is now under active consideration.
