Construction Fast-Tracked at Vaccine Centre

Construction has begun ahead of schedule at the UK’s first vaccination and development centre.

The main contractor behind the Vaccines Manufacturing and Innovation Centre (VMIC) at Hartwell in Oxfordshire is Glencar Construction. Thanks to a ‘rapidly accelerated’ construction programme, the 75,000 sq ft facility will open its doors in 2021, ahead of the original date of 2022.

VMIC is a not for profit organisation and will provide the UK’s first bespoke strategic vaccine development and manufacturing capability. An unprecedented collaborative effort between The Vaccines Manufacturing and Innovation Centre, Harwell Campus, Vale of the White Horse District Council, UK Research and Innovation and Glencar, has seen the acceleration of the construction of this complex build in order to bring the facility on line early, so it can provide an emergency response capability for the UK.

Ground works for the site began in early April and have focused on site clearance, preparing the site for construction and the early order of the steelwork. Glencar expect to see the basebuild ready for early access for it-out in late July/early August. With design and fit out underway and being led by WHP Engineering.

Eddie McGillycuddy, Managing Director of Glencar Construction said: “Glencar is pleased to collaborate with VMIC, Harwell, The Vale of White Horse Council and other stakeholders to deliver this critical project. We have made an accelerated start and reduced our construction programme with the support of our partners, making this project an excellent example of all that is good about our industry.”

VMIC intends to occupy a prominent location on the 700-acre Harwell Campus, home to 6,000 people across 225 organisations (with 30 universities represented there). As a pillar organisation with the Harwell HealthTech Cluster, VMIC ill be co-located with the UK’s open access National Laboratories, including the Diamond Light Source and The Rosalind Franklin Institute as well as innovative start-up/SMEs through to multinationals working in the global and UK Life Sciences sector.

Chris Lucas, Chief Operating Officer, VMIC: “The programme acceleration to allow VMIC to open its doors in 2021, a year ahead of schedule, with the concurrent increase in capability to cater for pandemic response has only been possible by an extraordinary level of cooperation by all concerned.

“Working hand in hand with the VMIC organisation in an integrated team, the entire project organisation; from the design and construction contractors, the landlord, specialist consultants and together with support from local and national government; has geared up to the challenge of meeting the revised requirements, focussed on collaboration to deliver this critical resource both in the battle against pandemic viruses and the rejuvenation of the vaccines industry in the UK”

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