Official Opening of Building 22

Richard Harrington MP, Minister for Business and Industry, opened Millbrook’s latest addition to its technology park, Building 22, on the 12^th September. The opening was on the second day of the Zero Emissions Vehicle (ZEV) Summit, hosted in this brand new space.

The state-of-the-art Building 22 offers customers ample meeting room, event and presentation or workshop and garage space with office amenities. It is flexible and suitable both for companies wishing permanently to base themselves at Millbrook, and those looking to use Millbrook’s secure test tracks in conjunction with a workshop, office or event space.

Millbrook’s proving ground in Bedfordshire, UK is a home to a growing number of vehicle technology companies, each benefitting from having immediate access to Millbrook’s tracks, test facilities and expertise. As a hub of innovation, Millbrook is committed to growing and investing to meet the needs of its customers.

Automotive Minister Richard Harrington said, “Millbrook is a leading player in the testing and development of new vehicles and automotive technologies that help ensure the UK remains the go-to location for automotive excellence.

“Supported by the Local Growth Fund, this new high-tech facility builds on the engineering strengths of the area to support further research for low emission vehicles - boosting our modern Industrial Strategy commitment to put UK expertise at the heart of a global green revolution.”

Building 22 benefitted from SEMLEP investment, through the Local Growth Fund. Attracting businesses and therefore talent to the site is crucial for drawing highly skilled jobs to the area, and SEMLEP has recognised Millbrook’s status as a centre of technical excellence for enriching the local community.

Local Growth Minister, Jake Berry, said, “This government is committed to boosting economic growth across the whole of the UK and building an economy which is fit for the future.

“Supported by the Government’s Local Growth Fund, this state-of-the-art addition to Millbrook’s technology park will support a rapidly growing sector while helping to cement Britain’s place at the forefront of automotive technology.”

Hilary Chipping, Chief Executive of SEMLEP said, “I am delighted to see the expansion plans at Millbrook come to fruition.

“Building 22 will contribute to developing our area’s cluster of expertise in next generation vehicles and high value engineering and, strengthens our role as the commercialisation core of the Oxford-Milton Keynes-Cambridge Growth Corridor.”

Welcoming the Minister to the event, Hilary added, “The Government’s decision to host the second day of their flagship Zero Carbon Vehicle Summit here, along with the Cenex-LCV event, reinforces the recognition that our area’s businesses lead in delivering solutions for the Future of Mobility Grand Challenge, as the test-bed for innovation in high-performance technology sectors, which remain crucial for the future success of the UK’s economy.”

During the official opening, visitors received a tour of the new building, including its vast main area featuring 8m-high ceilings and a built-in folding partition for splitting the workshop into two discreet areas. The 5m-high doors will allow customers to bring their vehicles into the building for development or demonstration, whether they are the size of a city car or a double-decker bus.

Martin Hughes, Director – Proving Ground and Technology Park said, “This new building opens up many possibilities for our customers and we look forward to welcoming more of the latest vehicle technologies to our proving ground. We are committed to supporting our customers’ development processes with expertise and infrastructure, whether it is 5G connectivity, battery test facilities or workshop and office space.”

For further information about Millbrook visit www.millbrook.co.uk, email info@millbrook.co.uk, telephone +44(0)1525 404242 or find us on Twitter and LinkedIn.

·         Richard Harrington MP

·         Andrew Keay, Sales Director, Millbrook

·         Alex Burns, President, Millbrook

·         Phil Stones, Chief Engineer – Propulsion, Millbrook

·         Martin Hughes, Director - Proving Ground & Technology Park, Millbrook

·         Hilary Chipping, Chief Executive, SEMLEP

·         Cllr Sue Clark, Deputy Executive Member for Regeneration, Central Bedfordshire Council

·         Judith Barker, Director of Programmes and Governance, SEMLEP