Streeting: Telford gun barrel factory marks ‘new era of hope’

Defence Secretary Wes Streeting says the quick-fire opening of a weapons factory in Shropshire is evidence of his government’s commitment to ‘rapid reindustrialisation’ in the Midlands.

Streeting cut the ribbon at an official opening of Rheinmetall’s 124,000 sq ft Telford facility today, part of a £200m investment in the UK over the past five years, which marks the return of artillery manufacturing to Great Britain following a twenty-year gap.

Part of MRE’s 2m sq ft Defence and Technology Park in North Telford, Rheinmetall’s gun hall has been transformed from a vacant unit into a large-calibre weapons factory in the space of eight months, following an £30m contract announcement in March.

The factory will produce both gun barrels and breaches for large-calibre weapons, with the operation supporting around 100 jobs in the region.

“From an empty site to full production in eight months, this is rapid reindustrialisation in action,” said Streeting.

“One hundred skilled jobs in world-class manufacturing and the return of large-calibre weapon production to UK soil for the first time in twenty years – this is what defence as an engine for growth looks like.”

Alongside BAE Systems, Rheinmetall is part of the RBSL joint venture which is also producing Challenger 3 tanks in Hadley Park, in a factory around half a mile from the new gun hall.

Telford Defence and Industrial Park is part of the former Hadley Castle Works, which employed over 5,000 people in aircraft parts and munitions manufacturing at its peak.

But activity declined steadily after World War Two, and manufacturing had largely ceased at the site by the early 2000’s.

MRE completed a £20m deal to buy up the site from GKN in 2022, with planning permission granted for its redevelopment in 2024.

“It’s not lost on me that we’re a stone’s throw away from the birthplace of British industry, and a part of our country that’s synonymous with engineering and manufacturing. So it feels especially fitting that we’re here to celebrate how we are renewing and reigniting that unique industrial strength,” added Streeting.

“All of this adds up to a new era of hope and opportunity for this town, this region, and our country as we face up to a new era of threat and jeopardy.”

Armin Papperger, chief executive of Rheinmetall AG, said the opening was an “important milestone” for both Rheinmetall, and for the United Kingdom.

“In a remarkably short period of time, we have turned our commitment into a sovereign manufacturing capability that will strengthen Britain’s defence industrial base for decades to come,” he said.

“We are committed to investing in the UK for the long term, expanding our industrial footprint and working together to deliver the capabilities needed for the future. By combining Rheinmetall’s expertise with British skills, innovation and manufacturing, we are strengthening the UK’s sovereign industrial capacity, supporting the Armed Forces and contributing to the security of NATO and Europe.”