Construction has begun on a new £3.3 million paint facility at BAE Systems’ Govan shipyard in Glasgow as part of a wider programme to modernise the city's naval shipbuilding infrastructure.

The new facility will allow ship blocks to be painted in a dedicated space, freeing up existing areas at the yard to support continued production of Type 26 frigates.

The 1,100m² fabric-covered structure, being built in partnership with Norwegian construction company Hallgruppen, will be large enough to accommodate four ship units at once and tall enough to handle some of the largest sections of the vessels, including bow and stern sections.

The project forms part of a wider investment programme of more than £360 million across BAE Systems' Govan and Scotstoun shipyards, aimed at improving production capacity and efficiency.

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Simon Lister, Managing Director of BAE Systems' Naval Ships business, said: "The new paint facility is another important step in our continued investment in Glasgow’s shipyards, helping to modernise our infrastructure and improve production efficiency. By optimising the use of space at our Govan site, the facility will increase painting capacity and support the demands of our shipbuilding programme.

"This investment strengthens our ability to deliver the Type 26 frigates efficiently, at pace and to the highest standards of quality. It reflects our commitment to continuously improving our shipbuilding capability and ensuring we remain well positioned to meet the needs of our customers, both now and in the future."

The new facility follows the opening last year of the Janet Harvey Hall at Govan, a state-of-the-art ship build hall that enables two Type 26 frigates to be constructed simultaneously under cover.

BAE Systems is also continuing to introduce digital technology across its shipyards, including tablets and kiosk screens on the shop floor to streamline production processes.

The Type 26 programme will provide the Royal Navy with advanced anti-submarine warfare capability, while also allowing the ships to be adapted for roles including medical support and humanitarian aid missions.

Construction of the new paint facility is expected to be completed later this year.