Old docks remain useful only when they keep pace

How would surviving historic dockyard space benefit Britain today?

It would help only if Britain had ships that needed it and the facilities had been enlarged and modernised for current hulls.

Surviving dock space helps only when a navy or merchant fleet still has ships that can use it. Modern vessels are larger, so retained facilities need enlargement and other upgrades to remain practical. A dock left untouched may survive as a geographical feature while becoming too small for current work. Continued investment, rather than survival alone, determines whether inherited capacity can support a modern fleet. Industrial heritage and operational usefulness can therefore diverge.