Rolls-Royce has awarded a construction contract worth more than £100 million to McLaughlin & Harvey for the development of a new customer-funded research, manufacturing and assembly facility at its Bristol site in the UK, strengthening its capabilities for next-generation combat air programmes.
The new facility, scheduled to break ground later this year, will serve as a dedicated hub for advanced product development, manufacturing and assembly, supporting the company’s long-term strategy to advance future combat air technologies. The project marks a major milestone in the ongoing redevelopment of the Bristol campus and is expected to enhance Rolls-Royce’s ability to accelerate innovation while expanding its advanced manufacturing capabilities.
Designed as a connected, digital-first facility, the site will integrate research, testing and manufacturing operations to improve efficiency, support agile development and enable the rapid introduction of advanced technologies. Rolls-Royce said the investment is intended to future-proof its defence manufacturing capabilities while strengthening support for evolving customer requirements.
Paul Pennington, Senior Vice President – Infrastructure, Defence, Rolls-Royce, said the new facility reflects the company’s commitment to innovation and long-term capability development.
“We are very pleased to be announcing the contract award to McLaughlin & Harvey. This complex facility is a physical manifestation of our commitment to novel technology and agile ways of working. By embedding our previous learnings, we are creating a space for state-of-the-art technology development to ensure we meet our ambitious customer commitments while future-proofing our capabilities for decades to come,” he said.
McLaughlin & Harvey, which has previously delivered two advanced manufacturing projects for Rolls-Royce, will lead the construction of the facility. The company said it will leverage its experience in delivering complex manufacturing environments to support the development of the new site.
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Dougie McCusker, Construction Director at McLaughlin & Harvey, said, “We have a longstanding partnership with Rolls-Royce and have completed two advanced manufacturing projects for them. Our Midlands and South West team will draw on this past experience and broader expertise in complex manufacturing environments to support the client in building a state-of-the-art manufacturing and assembly facility in Bristol.”
Once operational, the facility will play a central role in supporting future combat air programmes while enhancing the site’s safety, security and operational resilience, reinforcing Rolls-Royce’s position in the development and production of next-generation defence propulsion technologies.
