New building part of redevelopment of UKAEA science campus

Kier will build a 8,000 sq m research and development facility in South Oxfordshire for the UK鈥檚 national fusion research laboratory.

The contractor will start work later this autumn, having been awarded the 拢26.8m by the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) through the Crown Commercial Service Framework.

UKAEA signed a 35-year agreement with Legal & General to develop the new R&D centre at Culham Science Centre near Abingdon, which is owned and run by the energy research body.

CGI3

Source: Kier

The four-storey office will house multiple tenants

The new building will comprise of a new four-storey office 鈥� to be used by multiple tenants 鈥� with a rig hall for research and development, as well as a multi-storey carpark.

The building will use a combination of energy efficient design and passive measures to comply with targets set out in the South Oxfordshire Local Plan. It will also utilise a rooftop solar array and air source heat pumps.

The R&D building is the latest element of a major regeneration programme on the South Oxfordshire campus.

In June 2021, UKAEA reached an agreement with Canadian firm General Fusion allowing the latter to develop a Fusion Demonstration Plant at Culham.

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