M-Sport’s state-of-the-art Evaluation Centre continues at pace

Aug 15, 2020

---

Progress on M-Sport’s state-of-the-art Evaluation Centre continues at pace, and the multi-million-pound facility at the firm’s Dovenby Hall Estate in Cumbria remains on course for completion this autumn.

The facility is considered integral to the future of the Cockermouth-based business, and once complete will safeguard existing jobs as well as creating new skills in the area.

Northern Developments’ team of expert constructors have put in the hours over the summer months, and the building is now fully clad and watertight.

All internal pre-cast concrete walls have been installed, and initial partitions to separate the 10,723 m2 workshop from its various departments are starting to take shape alongside mechanical and electrical installations.

The external concrete road is being laid, and structural glazing that will form the front of an impressive showroom at the front of the development is now also being installed.

The project was made possible with investment from the UK Government’s Regional Growth Fund (RGF) as well as Growth Fund investment provided by Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership (CLEP), and will allow M-Sport to develop a one-of-a-kind facility in the UK.

Offering a unique centre of engineering excellence, the M-Sport Evaluation Centre was designed to boost Cumbrian economy, skills and innovation in the Northern Powerhouse – the importance of which has only increased given the current climate.
M-Sport Managing Director, Malcolm Wilson OBE, said:

“I’m extremely proud of what we are creating here at Dovenby Hall, and it’s important that we move forward with an operational facility to attract new business and protect existing jobs as well as new skills in the area.

“These are particularly challenging times for so many businesses, but once the Evaluation Centre is up and running I’m confident that we can come out the other side and continue to provide for Cumbria.

“Together with Northern Developments, we will continue to work closely with Allerdale Borough Council to ensure the facility can operate successfully and in compliance with the safeguards in place for the local community.

“Following our most recent testing we have withdrawn the current planning application and aim to submit a revised application for approval in the near future, so that we can be up and running in the coming months.”

Commercial Manager for Northern Developments, Eddie Ward, said:

“In spite of the impact of the global pandemic, the team on site have worked tirelessly to overcome various challenges, striving to deliver this impressive project on time. The client’s commitment to the local economy is unwavering and we are proud to be able to facilitate such ambitious aspirations in challenging times.”

Head of Programme Management at Cumbria LEP, Corinne Watson, said:

“CLEP is delighted by the progress that has been made on developing M-Sport’s Evaluation Centre, which when complete will provide an exceptional facility here in Cumbria. All credit to Northern Developments for pulling out all of the stops to ensure that the facility is completed on time. The Centre will safeguard jobs locally and support recovery in the motor industry more widely.”

---

---