WORK has begun on the creation of a massive £31.5 million indoor ship-building facility at Rosyth Dockyard.

Babcock announced last week that it had awarded the contract to develop the new assembly hall to Scottish group Robertson Construction.

The firm, which employs about 1,500 people at Rosyth, says the facility would be used initially for the Type 31 general purpose frigate programme and will provide a "modern, future-ready facility designed to assemble two vessels side by side”.

Free from weather disruption, the undercover area will enable productivity gains due to improved access and digital connectivity.

At a small ceremony marking the beginning of the steel structure construction, Babcock also announced that it had placed an order for PEMA welding and production panel lines to support the automation of shipbuilding.

This is part of a £55m investment programme currently under way on the site, on top of a further £100 million that has been invested over the last decade.

A commemorative time capsule was buried to mark the occasion.

John Howie, chief corporate affairs officer at Babcock, said: “The Type 31 programme is re-energising the UK’s maritime capability through innovative, next generation, UK ship design and build.

"The infrastructure investment under way at Rosyth builds on our exceptional heritage, experience and engineering insight, delivering a very real step change in capacity and capability for modern UK shipbuilding.

“It’s great to see the progress being made across the programme as we invest in new infrastructure and technologies to support the build phase of these fantastic new frigates.

"I know the team are looking forward to working closely with Robertson Construction on the development of the new assembly hall and with PEMA on the installation of the panel lines.”

Standing at 147 metres long, the new shipbuilding hall, when completed, could fit three Olympic-size swimming pools comfortably. Towering at 30 metres high, its ‘mega doors’ will accommodate the vital crane system, known as Goliath.

Scottish Secretary Alister Jack welcomed the start of construction.

“Defence underpins a wealth of jobs and investment across the entire United Kingdom," he said. "Babcock’s ‘frigate factory’ in Rosyth demonstrates the huge footprint of prosperity that UK Government investment in defence brings.

“This vast industrial facility will see Scottish shipbuilders build our latest warships that will take pride of place in the Royal Navy fleet.”