BAE Systems announced in November last year that it plans to end shipbuilding at its facilities located within the city's Royal Navy base, though it will continue its ship maintenance activities.

Lambert Smith Hampton is responsible for marketing the facilities to interested bidders, managing the national and international campaign to generate interest in the site.

The 13 hectare site is situated centrally within the Naval Base and vacant facilities totalling some 75,000 sq m may be made available for commercial use.

The site provides a large scale, modern and secure manufacturing facility, with excellent transportation links by both land and sea through Portsmouth Harbour.

Facilities include the Shiphall, two docks, Plate Cutting Facilities, workshops with overhead craneage, stores and Administration Offices, which are fully integrated into the HM Naval Base Portsmouth.

The MOD is looking for companies which will utilise the unique opportunities presented by the site and its skilled workers.

Robin Dickens, a Director at Lambert Smith Hampton, said: “Major facilities like this do not come on to the market very often, so we expect to see considerable interest from companies operating in the marine, defence, aerospace and general engineering sectors, from both the UK and overseas.  It is one of those unique opportunities that demands a closer look.

“Portsmouth is synonymous with shipbuilding.  It has world-leading research and development, a highly skilled workforce and a strong international reputation.

“Our strong presence on the South Coast and track record of major industrial projects throughout the UK means that we’re ideally placed to help the DIO find an occupier for this strategically important site.  We’ve already started speaking to possible tenants about the facility.”

Interested parties should contact Lambert Smith Hampton on 01489 579 579 or 020 7198 2000.