A NEW 75,000-metre-squared Ministry of Defence storage facility is being built in Longtown.

The £86-million contract with Glasgow-based construction and civil engineering company – McLaughlin & Harvey – will support approximately 150 highly-skilled jobs in Scotland and a further 300 in the north of England, according to the MOD.

The build will not only 'strengthen industrial activity across the UK but also grow the economy across both sides of the border'.

Due to complete in early October 2024, the new facility will be a 'key asset in supporting the armed forces on operations', providing 'safe and secure storage for equipment used by all three services such as engines and other large spare parts in the defence inventory'.

John Farrow, DE&S director logistics and support operating centre, said: “The new warehouse will provide the UK with additional modern storage facilities, building on the success of similar facilities in Donnington, that will ensure assets are available more rapidly to meet surges in demand.

"This contract represents a fantastic example of the progress we have made in developing and implementing fit-for-purpose facilities that is helping to accelerate our mission of equipping and supporting our UK armed forces today and tomorrow.”

Known as the MOD Distribution Centre (North), the Longtown facility will be the size of 12 football pitches and be built on a brownfield site within the Longtown estate.

"Longtown is a hugely important, strategic facility and contributes much to the operational capability of Defence."
- James Cartlidge, minister for defence procurement

The new facility is aimed at upgrading the MoD's storage estate. Much of the department's warehouses were built around the Second World War. The new facility will provide growth capacity for new capabilities coming into service over 'the next ten years and beyond', the MoD said.

Secretary of State for Scotland, Alister Jack, said: “I welcome this multi-million-pound UK Government defence investment and the hundreds of jobs it will support in Scotland and Cumbria.

"This giant facility will help ensure kit used by our armed forces is stored in the best possible condition and can be deployed speedily."