The design consortium appointment follows on the back of contract wins for rapidly expanding car dealer Vertu Motors, which appointed Howarth Litchfield to remodel its new head office on the Team Valley Trading Estate, as well as new office space for the Esh Group in Durham.
The new building will comprise of specialist leading edge incubation laboratory space and product formulation capability, as well as office accommodation space.
Director Neil Turner said: “We are currently enjoying a higher level of enquiries from clients in the commercial property sector for both new build and refurbishment projects which, I believe, reflects the greater level of positivity there is in the sector at the moment.”
Fellow director Dave Pickersgill, who specialises in the technical aspects of project delivering with the practice, added: “I was delighted to get the opportunity to design and create a multifunction building.
“Apart from being designed to achieve BREEAM Excellent, CPI’s Formulation Centre has also been designed to have a high profile creating a visual impact on the science park. Its design will also complement existing buildings on the park.
“With an impressive level of finish both internally and externally, thanks to our innovative design approach, the building also represents real value for money.”
The formulation centre, which has received funding from the North East LEP Local Growth Fund is currently at planning stage with Durham County Council.
Howarth Litchfield expects to gain planning consent in October, with an anticipated start on site in 2016.
Other project partners who make up the design consortium include consulting civil and structural engineers, Fairhurst and building services consultant CAD 21.
The development is part of a wider 10-year plan to expand facilities at NETPark, as Durham continues to attract international organisations working at the forefront of science and technology.
The centre will also form part of the High Value Manufacturing Catapult, an initiative launched by the coalition government in 2010 to act as a catalyst to drive the growth and success of advanced manufacturing in the UK.
CPI’s business director of formulation, Dr Keith Robson, said: “CPI continues to build its strategic presence at NETPark via the creation of a world class centre which will support national and regional companies in the delivery of formulated products such as detergents, cosmetics, paints, adhesives.
“Formulation is an exciting area for CPI and solidifies our plans to address the key challenges and opportunities within the sector. CPI is delighted to have Howarth Litchfield working alongside to translate its requirements into an exciting and innovative design.
“The centre will provide both large and small companies with open access facilities to optimise their novel research ideas, thereby reducing the risks associated with product and process development in this growing global market.”
