Huge investment into Portsmouth Airbus site amid 'comprehensive' plan to boost space and defence facilities

Significant scale of investment is being put into one of Portsmouth’s biggest employers.

Airbus Defence and Space is ploughing a high single-digit million figure into its site in Anchorage Park. The firm said the aim is to increase operational efficiency, enhance its competitiveness, and make upgrades to its offices and customer areas.

Gary O’Donnell, head of space systems UK, said: “Airbus is consistently investing in the UK and across Europe, developing our Defence and Space capabilities, for sovereign and commercial activities. This latest announcement reinforces our long-term commitment to the UK, delivering better value to our customers through improved efficiencies and ensuring our teams can deliver our spacecraft from world-class facilities.”

A new visitor area will be created, fleshed out with modern conferencing facilities. This is part of a ‘comprehensive programme’ of upgrading existing offices and facilities to improve the day-to-day working environment for its nearly 900 employees, an Airbus spokesperson said.

They added: “By creating a more efficient footprint, Airbus will be able to offer high-tech manufacturing and collaboration areas to other businesses in the area. With a specific focus on space SMEs and the space ecosystem, this initiative builds on Airbus’ vision to create a premier Space Campus for the Solent area.”

“As part of the investment plan, Portsmouth’s state-of-the-art space technology, payload Design Authority, and manufacturing capabilities will be co-located nearer to the main satellite payload final assembly cleanroom, simplifying the transfer of highly sensitive components to the main build area. This co-location of production facilities is only made possible as a result of investment in a new cleanroom manufacturing area completed five years ago.”

Portsmouth North MP Amanda Martin, Labour, said it was fantastic to see Airbus invest in the city and bolstering an important part of the local economy. She added: “This investment is a real vote of confidence in Portsmouth and in the expertise of the people who work here.

“It will strengthen our city’s position as a leading centre for space and engineering, while creating opportunities for more businesses and young people to be part of this exciting sector. I look forward to continuing to work with Airbus and our local partners to champion Portsmouth’s strengths, support good jobs and ensure our city remains at the forefront of the UK’s space and advanced engineering industries.”

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Airbus was recently handed £1.5m by the UK Space Agency to enhance the development of satellite communication systems. The cash injection was set aside for its Software Defined Radio Generic Payload Processor - known as Theia.

All eyes are on the company as its currently competing for the £2.4bn Skynet 6 satellite system contract against a bid from American-owned Lockheed Martin. Prime minister Andy Burham is under pressure to back the British-based bid, which secures jobs in Portsmouth and Stevenage.

The News, backed by Portsmouth City Council, has written an open letter to Mr Burnham which calls on him to award Airbus the deal. During a visit to HMNB Portsmouth in July, Mr Burnham said he’s committed to reindustrialising Portsmouth and other areas in the south of England.

He previously said: “There is a big reindustrialisation opportunity here, particularly for defence in Portsmouth. People should expect to see plenty of me.”