Advancing UK Aerospace, Defence, Security & Space Solutions Worldwide
  • Home
  • /
  • Aerospace
  • /
  • Rolls-Royce selects design partners for Derby expansion

Aerospace Defence

Rolls-Royce selects design partners for Derby expansion

Rolls-Royce Submarines has announced the joint appointment of AtkinsRéalis and Mott MacDonald as its new fissile design partners – a key milestone in the expansion of its Raynesway site.

Above: (left to right) Steve Walters, Major Projects Director – Nuclear, AtkinsRéalis, Stuart Hardman, Energy Defence Account Leader, Mott MacDonald; Terry Meighan, Director – Infrastructure, Rolls-Royce, Andy Smart, Head of Major Projects – Nuclear, AtkinsRéalis, Chris Hickey, Head of Supply Chain – Regeneration, Rolls-Royce and Jeremy Reed, Mott MacDonald Global Practice Leader – Nuclear.
Courtesy Rolls-Royce

Advertisement
Cranfield

Both AtkinsRéalis and Mott MacDonald are globally renowned engineering and development consultancies that bring with them a wealth of experience working on major, complex and high-profile projects.

In June 2023, it was announced that Rolls-Royce is planning to double the size of its Submarines site in Derby to meet the growth in demand from the Royal Navy, and as a result of last year’s AUKUS announcement.

This increase in demand 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.

As the work will take place within the nuclear licensed site at Raynesway, the design and construction of fissile facilities adds a level of complexity and rigour above and beyond that of traditional builds.

Above: Illustration of proposed Raynesway site expansion.
Courtesy Rolls-Royce

Working as the PROPEL joint venture, it will be AtkinsRéalis and Mott MacDonald’s role to design these new facilities and work with the incoming fissile construction partner to deliver them.

Rolls-Royce Submarines Infrastructure Director Terry Meighan said: “The expansion work we have planned is of critical national importance as it enables us to safely increase our speed of manufacture, helping to deliver Dreadnought and the new SSN-AUKUS attack submarines at a much faster rate.

Advertisement
ADS S&P RT

“The experience and deep nuclear knowledge, as well as the strong safety ethic, evidenced by the combined AtkinsRéalis and Mott MacDonald team means the design of our crucial new fissile facilities is in capable hands.”

Andy Smart, Head of Major Projects – Nuclear, AtkinsRéalis, said: “These new facilities will be vital to deliver new submarines safely, swiftly and efficiently and we’re delighted to be appointed alongside Mott MacDonald to progress these plans at pace.

“This critical project requires expertise and skillsets across nuclear fuel management, defence and complex infrastructure programmes. Collectively, we'll use our experience across these disciplines to support Rolls-Royce Submarines in the successful delivery of this programme.”

Jeremy Reed, Global Practice Leader – Nuclear, Mott MacDonald said: “Mott MacDonald brings over 60 years of experience delivering complex technical solutions in highly regulated, secure, and safety-critical nuclear environments. Combined with our commitment to excellence, safety and sustainability, this experience, along with that of our partner AtkinsRéalis, will play a key role in supporting Rolls-Royce Submarines to deliver the successful expansion of the Derby site, continuing our longstanding commitment to support the UK submarine enterprise.”

The next milestone in Rolls-Royce’s ten-year expansion programme is to select the fissile construction partner, who will bring AtkinsRéalis and Mott MacDonald’s designs to life. They will be tasked with building the nuclear manufacturing facilities, with the winning firm being announced in the coming weeks.

Rolls-Royce Submarines currently employs more than 5,000 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.

Rolls-Royce is currently supporting the existing Astute and Dreadnought boat build programmes through the delivery of reactor plant and associated components.

It also provides frontline support across the world for reactor plant equipment from its Operations Centre in Derby and supports the submarines when in the Barrow-in-Furness shipyard and the naval bases at Devonport and Faslane. In addition, there are technical specialists working in offices in Glasgow and Cardiff, with a unique test facility operating in Thurso, Scotland.

Advertisement
Aviation Africa LB Aviation Africa LB
Heathrow launches upgrade and expansion plan

Aerospace

Heathrow launches upgrade and expansion plan

12 February 2025

Following the UK Chancellor's backing of a third runway, Heathrow is launching its largest investment programme in the airport’s history to upgrade and expand through 100% private funding. 

Autonomous vehicles pass intense weather tests

Aerospace

Autonomous vehicles pass intense weather tests

12 February 2025

Aurrigo International plc has come up with new software to help airports overcome the challenge of operating autonomous vehicles in intense wet weather and snow.

Heathrow has busiest January on record

Aerospace

Heathrow has busiest January on record

12 February 2025

Last month was Heathrow’s busiest January on record, with over 6.3 million passengers travelling through the airport - up over 5% on the same time last year.

NATS outlines revolutionary path to drone integration

Aerospace

NATS outlines revolutionary path to drone integration

11 February 2025

NATS today announced the launch of its whitepaper 'Advancing Aviation through Integration of Drones in the UK’s Low-Level Airspace', highlighting how Project CAELUS demonstrates a successful path towards integrating traditional ATM with drone traffic by leveraging NATS Services’ new Concept of Operations (CONOPs).

Advertisement
ODU RT
Skyports and LODD unveil vertiport design for Abu Dhabi AAM network

Aerospace

Skyports and LODD unveil vertiport design for Abu Dhabi AAM network

11 February 2025

Skyports Infrastructure and Abu Dhabi based AI-powered drone tech and autonomous aerial logistics specialist LODD, have unveiled vertiport designs to be developed for the Abu Dhabi AAM network, across three strategic locations.

VIP-Fly services launched at Manchester Airport

Aerospace

VIP-Fly services launched at Manchester Airport

11 February 2025

Airport concierge specialist, VIP-Fly, is expanding its footprint in the UK with the launch of premium VIP meet and assist and concierge services at Manchester Airport.

Advertisement
ODU RT