Plans by BAE Systems to move to a new shipyard facility in Glasgow are to go out to tender this week, it is understood.

According to reports, the plans are for the shipyard located at Scotstoun in the city. It is one of two options unveiled by the company earlier this year regarding its Govan and Scotstoun-based facilities.

The £200m single-site manufacturing facility would result in closing the shipyard in Govan. Alternatively, the other option would involve a £100m investment see expand and enhance the facilities at both existing sites.

While it is thought a planning application has been submitted for both projects, the preferred option is the single-site in Scotstoun.

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At Scotstoun, the scheme would include constructing a new 330m covered dock hall, steelwork preparation and fabrication facilities, as well as a quay, which would allow for ship blocks and equipment to be transported by sea.

If approved, construction could start in January, with a scheduled completion date of 2017. Discussions regarding the future of the Govan base would be discussed by the relevant parties. BAE's Govan facility is leased from Clydeport.

In a statement, BAE Systems said: "We continue to explore two options for manufacturing facilities investment in Glasgow, subject to MoD agreement.

"The first, a single-site strategy, involves consolidating all phases of the build process at Scotstoun where a new state-of-the-art complex warship manufacturing facility would be built.

"The second, a two-site strategy, involves extending and improving existing facilities at both Govan and Scotstoun.

"The construction of a new facility, as proposed under the single-site option, would have a longer lead time than upgrading existing facilities as proposed under the two-site option, hence the tender process for the single-site option has commenced earlier."

(JP/IT)