Member Article

Surgo Construction wins contract for CPI NETPark build

Newcastle-based Surgo Construction has been awarded a contract to build the Centre for Process Innovation’s (CPI) National Formulation Centre, based at NETPark in Sedgefield, County Durham.

Set to be built alongside CPI’s Printable Electronics and Graphene Application Centres, the new site will to develop the business’ next generation of formulated products - applied across markets such as healthcare and pharmaceuticals, home and personal care, industrial products, oil and gas, paints and coatings, and food and drink.

Work is expected to commence at the site in October 2016, with the centre fully operational from December 2017, however, facilities are already open for business at NETPark’s Discovery 2 building.

The team are developing a pipeline of projects that will enable CPI and partners from across the industry to develop facilities and expertise that will attract businesses to the area to develop their formulated products for years to come.

CPI’s Formulation Director Graeme Cruickshank said: “We are delighted to have Surgo on board to deliver the new centre. The contract will help anchor R&D, manufacturing and jobs in the North East, and is an important step along the way to helping deliver CPI’s lighthouse vision for the formulating industries.”

The new building is expected to house over 35 staff in both technical and non-technical roles, and will bring opportunities for up to 90 construction-based jobs during the build project. Howarth Litchfield (HL), one of the region’s leading architectural practices, won the role of lead consultant and principal designer on the scheme after a competitive tender.

For Surgo Construction it will be a welcome return to one of the region’s fastest growing science parks. Five years ago the firm completed NETPark 3 - a 1,768 sqm production and clean room facility.

Jeff Alexander, director, said: “This contract is significant, both for Surgo Construction and for the role that CPI will play, once building is completed, in ensuring the region makes its mark at the cutting edge of technology and within the next generation of formulated products and their applications. We are delighted to be part of it.”

The build will be funded by the North East LEP and Board Member Alan Lowdon said: “This is a significant milestone in this important project for the North East LEP, supporting our commitment to stimulating innovation and business growth at NETPark and within the wider North East economy.

“We are pleased to be supporting this new venture with a grant of £8.9m towards the new national centre and welcome the appointment of Surgo Construction Ltd to deliver a state of the art research and development building.”

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