Willmott Dixon is further underlining its track-record as one of the UK’s leading builders of science facilities with a £8 million contract from Nottingham City Council to expand Nottingham Science Park.

The company has recently delivered similar projects in the East Midlands, such as BioCity Discovery Building, a life science incubator on the edge of Nottingham’s Creative Quarter for Nottingham City Council, plus the STEM building for University of Derby.

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Now Willmott Dixon will build Nottingham Science Park’s second facility to create 22,700 square foot of Grade A office space for companies looking for research and development facilities near like-minded organisations. The building - designed by CPMG Architects – has been designed to complement existing buildings on site and is the first phase in a series of new developments at the site in the coming years.

Support to develop the new building has been funded by the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP).

The project was procured via Major Works England and Northern Ireland, a part of the Scape National Construction framework. It sees Willmott Dixon work together with Perfect Circle, a consortium comprising of Pick Everard, Gleeds and AECOM, via The Scape Built Environment Consultancy Services framework to deliver the new building by early 2020.

Stuart Kerr, operations director for Willmott Dixon in the East Midlands:

“This is a hugely important scheme for Nottingham and Nottingham City Council. Nottingham Science Park 2 will make such a difference to the local economy by creating 200 highly skilled new jobs upon completion, however, as with all of our projects we want to support the local community by creating employment opportunities throughout the construction period too.”

The contract follows on from other recent milestone science projects the company has delivered, including Menai Science Park in Anglesey and Boole Technology Centre in Lincoln.

Councillor Jon Collins, leader of the City Council, said: “The expansion of the Science Park is important to Nottingham: as a Science City, we recognise the way scientific research and manufacture can create jobs, stimulate growth and create great local companies the city can be proud of.

“Nottingham has a proud history of manufacturing, and of scientific discovery through Boots, the discovery of ibuprofen and the creation of the MRI machine. We want to create many more opportunities for discoveries, cutting edge technology or new breakthroughs, and investing in a new hi-tech building is a crucial step in that. Being close to both the University of Nottingham and the Boots Enterprise Zone only enhances the opportunities the Science Park can foster. By investing in an innovative sector of the city and national industry, we can all benefit from this in the future as firms expand and invest more into themselves and into Nottingham.”

Mark Robinson, Scape Group chief executive said: “The new business hub will be a great addition to the extension to the Nottingham Science Park 2, not only for the scientific community but also for the local economic contribution that SME’s will make by working on this project. With Nottingham being our heartland, I am delighted that this exciting project will further enhance Nottingham’s position at the forefront of scientific innovation.

“The business hub serves as a magnet in attracting further investment to Nottingham whilst generating a halo effect for the local community by creating a myriad of local employment opportunities.”