The largest deal so far this year for MEPC Birchwood Park and one of the largest so far for Warrington sees leading nuclear technology services provider, National Nuclear Laboratory (NNL), moving into 17,000 sq ft premises in the recently refurbished Chadwick House.The latest of many leading nuclear organisations to relocate to MEPC Birchwood Park, NNL is moving from Hinton House, Birchwood. The move marks the firm’s independence from the now no longer existent BNFL, which had been based at Hinton with its constituent parts since 1971.
Initially accommodating around 150 personnel in the corporate, modelling, environmental management and engineering teams, NNL’s spacious new Chadwick House premises will facilitate anticipated expansion. The firm aims to recruit between 20 and 30 people over the next 3 years.
NNL’s selection of MEPC Birchwood Park’s Chadwick House ensures that it remains close to many of its existing customers and partners. It will place the organisation at the heart of the park’s expanding centre of nuclear excellence, which offers firms within the sector the benefits of an increasingly sophisticated nuclear infrastructure.
Said NNL director of facilities, Leigh Wakefield: “As NNL enters a new era of growth independence, it makes great sense for us to move to a new location.
“We wanted to remain in the area to stay close to our contacts and to ensure minimal disruption to our employees’ travel arrangements.
“MEPC Birchwood Park offered a competitive deal and the park’s amenities and on-site team are excellent. We look forward to expanding our business here.”
Added MEPC Birchwood Park managing director, Jonathan Walsh: “We’re very pleased to welcome NNL to the park and are confident that it will continue to flourish within our growing nuclear community.
“It is a triumph for the park to have attracted another key company from the nuclear sector, in what is not only our biggest deal so far this year, but Warrington’s too. ”
The arrival of NNL marks the latest stage in the bourgeoning nuclear sector at the park, to date more than 20 companies work in or service the nuclear sector, including Amec Nuclear, Nuvia, Rolls-Royce, Serco Assurance and UKAEA.
Birchwood Park was recently named Commercial Developer of the Year at the Insider Property Awards, the judges identifying it as “the best business park in the region”.
