Why Type 32 would evolve from Type 31

Should Type 32 be a Type 31-plus design?

Yes; the established yard, design team, capacity limits, and contracted production pipeline all point to an evolved Type 31.

The same yard and design team are positioned to build the follow-on class, while alternative British facilities lack spare construction capacity. Government support for reopening and upgrading the yard also came with an expectation of a continuing hull pipeline. Type 32 therefore begins as an evolved Type 31 for industrial as well as naval reasons.