The centre will be delivered by the Manufacturing Technology Centre, BRE and Cambridge University’s Centre for Digital Built Britain
Details about the new Core Innovation Hub promised in the Construction Sector Deal have been revealed by the department for business.
The new Core Innovation Hub, which is being built thanks to a £72m investment from the government, will transform the UK’s construction industry by supporting the development and use of technologies such as digital design, advanced manufacturing, robotics, drones and augmented and virtual reality, said construction minister Richard Harrington.
Following a nationwide competition as part of the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund, the government, through UK Research and Innovation, awarded the £72m to deliver the centre to the Transforming Construction Alliance, a partnership between the Manufacturing Technology Centre, BRE and Cambridge University’s Centre for Digital Built Britain.
Keith Waller, who has been a senior advisor at the Infrastructure and Projects Authority, has been appointed as programme director of the Transforming Construction Alliance.
He said: "I am delighted to be leading the Transforming Construction Alliance in its mission to deliver the Core Innovation Hub project, and boost productivity and performance in the construction sector.
"I look forward to working alongside government, industry and the talented teams at MTC, BRE and CDBB to realise the vision of a transformed sector."
The Construction Leadership Council has welcomed the news with Andy Mitchell, chief executive of Tideway and Co-chair of the CLC, saying the Core Innovation Hub had an essential role to play in delivering increased sector productivity.
He said: "It will enable construction businesses to develop and validate new products and manufacturing and assembly processes and will leverage investment into UK offsite manufacturing capability.”
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