Winner of £80m NAIC construction contract announced

THE University of Warwick has announced that Balfour Beatty has been awarded the £80m contract to construct the National Automotive Innovation Centre (NAIC).

The 33,000 sq m development on Warwick’s main campus site involves the construction of a four-storey ‘L’ shaped building that will house state-of-the-art teaching, research and development, design and engineering facilities.

The NAIC – which is being part-funded by Jaguar Land Rover – will provide a national focus for expertise in automotive research and development. It will accommodate more than 1,000 researchers, designers, students and engineers, fostering collaboration to develop and utilise new breakthrough vehicle technologies.

The facility is also intended to help to address the current shortage of skilled research and development staff in the automotive supply chain.

At the height of construction the building project will employ more than 750 people and will also provide opportunities for apprenticeships and graduate and work experience placements. Work will commence this spring with completion in spring 2017.

Leo Quinn, Balfour Beatty group chief executive officer, said: “This award adds to Balfour Beatty’s significant portfolio of university projects across the UK currently totalling over £350m in value.

“We look forward to delivering a facility that will support the University of Warwick’s ambition to position the UK at the forefront of automotive research and development. Our commitment to apprenticeship, graduate and work placements, throughout project delivery will ensure Balfour Beatty’s contribution goes beyond the construction phase.”

Professor Lord Bhattacharyya, chairman of Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG), an academic department of the University of Warwick, said: “The National Automotive Innovation Centre will link people, research and world-leading infrastructure to create and develop novel technologies.

“NAIC will be an ‘engine’ for economic growth, with wide economic benefit, and sustained growth from the creation of world-leading technologies.

“Building will commence soon and through Balfour Beatty the construction of such a significant facility will bring equally significant economic and employment benefits to the local construction sector.”

NAIC is being funded through a collaboration between Jaguar Land Rover, Tata Motors European Technical Centre, WMG and the Government’s UK Research Partnership Investment Fund (UKRPIF), which is administered by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE).

The total investment in NAIC and the initial technologies it will house by will be £150m.

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