Defence Online

Veolia: Specialist decommissioning for military installations

April 23, 2026

As the Ministry of Defence (MOD) accelerates the generational renewal of its estate and prepares for the AUKUS submarine programme, the safe and sustainable decommissioning of legacy infrastructure has become a critical strategic priority.

Through innovative partnerships, Veolia is delivering advanced decommissioning capabilities that de-risk complex programmes, accelerate delivery timelines, and drive the circular economy in defence.

How Veolia’s Decommissioning Service can help

As the UK’s leading resource management company, Veolia provides decommissioning services including decontamination, demolition, and land remediation. Their highly trained team specialises in complex, high-stakes challenges that de-risks programmes such as the Submarine Decommissioning Programme (SDC), while significantly accelerating delivery timelines, and ensuring regulatory compliance.

Veolia’s service focuses on both flexibility and technological problem-solving, putting innovative thinking at the forefront of their work. They have built a reputation for revolutionising decommissioning by moving away from traditional methods towards industrialised solutions that enable multiple workfaces and parallel workflows.

Veolia’s decommissioning services include:

• Safe dismantling of military installations and equipment
• Environmental remediation of former military facilities
• Radioactive waste management and nuclear decommissioning
• Compliance with military and environmental regulations during site closure

Veolia delivers value by being compliant with ISO 9001 & 14001 and OHSAS 18001. They also fulfill requirements of BS 6187 Demolition Code of Practice, Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006, IRR99 and RSA 93.

With a focus on mechanical means wherever practicable, manual intervention only within safe and stable environments and the use of trained, experienced, and security-cleared staff, Veolia creates strategic partnerships that can regenerate the defence estate.

Veolia’s Decommissioning Solutions in Practice: Partnering with Babcock in UK Submarine Dismantling Project

Veolia’s Decommissioning team was awarded a milestone recycling contract in partnership with Babcock, the MOD and the Submarine Delivery Agency. The contract involves fully dismantling the nuclear-powered submarine, Swiftsure, based in Rosyth.

This is a world-first approach, applying a new and innovative methodology which will enable over 90% of the structure and components to be reused and recycled, all part of Veolia’s GreenUp strategy designed to depollute, decarbonise, and preserve resources for a more sustainable future in defence.

With the ‘New Hybrid Navy’ initiative involving the growth of the UK’s nuclear-powered attack submarine fleet, as part of the AUKUS programme, the sustainable development of end-of-life submarines must now be factored into the lifecycle planning of our submarine fleet. Innovative and collaborative recycling solutions will enable the process of decommissioning end-of-life submarines to become circular ones, with the maximum amount of materials able to be reused.

With ageing facilities and end-of-life military equipment needing decommissioning, Veolia can help provide a specialist service that is safe and sustainable.

Contact Veolia’s Decommissioning team to get started on your sustainability journey.

References: Babcock: Babcock awards milestone recycling contract in UK’s Submarine Dismantling Project (2024)

UK Government: Strategic Defence Review (2025)

Post written by: Vicky Maggiani

Vicky has worked in media for over 25 years and has a wealth of experience in editing and creating copy for a variety of sectors.