News

Military chiefs are drawing up plans to invest £50 million in an upgrade of the RM Condor base at Arbroath, we can reveal.

The revamp is expected to focus on improving the accommodation at the facility, which has been home to the 45 Commando unit since 1971.

The investment plans will be welcomed as a signal that the future of the Royal Marines base has finally been secured.

The threat of closure hung over the site during Ministry of Defence (MOD) basing reviews in 2004, 2009 and 2013.

Documents seen by The Courier suggest a £50m investment is now being envisaged for the home of the commando group.

If given the go-ahead, the contract is expected to go out to tender in 2024, with work pencilled in to start in 2025 and last about two years. It would be part of a £400m programme being finalised by the Royal Navy to invest in single living accommodation.

A spokeswoman for the MOD said: “We are committed to ensuring our service personnel have suitable and appropriate single living accommodation.

“Defence continues to make significant and growing contribution to Scotland, with a programme of future investment across the UK currently being finalised and upgrades to RM Condor being considered as part of this plan.”