Claire Hazelgrove MP Welcomes Major Rolls-Royce Investment to Develop New Innovation Site in Filton

Claire Hazelgrove, MP for the Filton and Bradley Stoke constituency, has welcomed a major £100m investment by local employer, Rolls-Royce, which will see a state-of-the-art research, testing and innovation facility built at its Filton site.

The new factory will support the development of next-generation combat air technologies, helping to secure high-skilled jobs while strengthening the UK’s wider defence industrial base. It will accelerate research, testing and advanced manufacturing capabilities, while future-proofing Rolls-Royce’s Bristol site for decades to come. Rolls-Royce Defence has been based in Bristol for more than 60 years and plays a vital role in the UK’s defence capability.

The manufacturer is a key supplier to the Ministry of Defence, producing engines for the Royal Air Force’s C-130 Hercules and the Eurofighter Typhoon. It also designs and builds the nuclear reactors that power the Vanguard and Astute submarines, which carry the UK’s nuclear deterrent and remain permanently on patrol at sea.

The local MP has consistently championed the Filton and Bradley Stoke constituency’s world-leading aerospace and defence industries. Earlier this year, Claire visited the Rolls-Royce site again alongside Defence Minister, Luke Pollard, for the opening of the company’s new Additive Manufacturing Development Cell, where she met with the team – at all career stages – to discuss the importance of investment, innovation and skills in securing the future of the sector.

The announcement comes shortly after the Labour Government published its Defence Investment Plan which provides long-term certainty for the UK’s defence sector and supports investment in advanced manufacturing, innovation and sovereign capability.

The Plan provides continuity of funding for the UK’s in-service fleets between 2026 and 2030, including defence programmes currently operating from the Rolls-Royce Filton site, alongside new investment in the UK’s strategic defence capabilities.

Work on the new facility is expected to begin later this year.

Claire Hazelgrove, MP for the Filton and Bradley Stoke constituency, said:

“Rolls-Royce’s new investment here in Filton is fantastic news for our community, and a huge vote of confidence in the people, skills and expertise that make our area such a driving force of innovation.

“I am pleased that the publication of our Labour Government’s Defence Investment Plan provides the confidence big local employers like Rolls-Royce need to plan ahead and invest in this new state-of-the-art research, testing and innovation facility here in Filton.

“Beyond the new site’s significant contribution to defence and security, it will also help create opportunities for more talented local people to build successful careers and develop the skills needed for the future.

“I’m delighted to see this investment coming to Filton and will continue to champion the businesses and workers who make our community one of the most productive and important places in the UK.”