Sir Robert McAlpine has been appointed as the main contractor by Northumbria University to deliver the North East Space Skills and Technology Centre (NESST) in Newcastle. 

This follows a pre-construction services agreement (PCSA) to deliver the £30m build contract, which comprises a full demolition, new build and extension of the pre-existing Wynne Jones building at the heart of Northumbria University’s Newcastle city campus. 

The works include a new ground floor and six upper levels with a footprint area of circa 900m².

The building will provide satellite manufacturing clean rooms, advanced prototyping laboratories, a Mission Operations Centre, teaching laboratories and collaborative spaces for work with companies in the space manufacturing supply chain. 

Work is currently well under way, with steelwork having now started at the site.

When completed, the centre will bring together industry and academia to collaborate on internationally significant space research and technological developments.  

The project will directly support the creation of over 350 jobs and will inject more than £260m into the North-east economy over the next 30 years. 

Backed by investment from the UK Space Agency and Lockheed Martin UK Space, NESST represents a significant milestone in advancing the UK's space industry. 

Mark Gardham, sector director at Sir Robert McAlpine, said: “We look forward to continuing our long-standing, successful relationship with Northumbria University and delivering this state-of-the-art facility in the heart of Newcastle.   

 “Our team of experts bring the engineering excellence necessary to work in such close proximity to vital transport infrastructure, collaborating closely with our supply chain partners and local stakeholders to deliver the project safely and efficiently, and make a positive impact on the local community.” 

The completion of the NESST is expected in autumn 2026.