Work has begun on Preston’s new engineering centre at the heart of the city’s university campus.

Off the Adelphi roundabout green hoardings have gone up fencing off the former Foster Building car park at the University of Central Lancashire.

Costing more than £30million the new Engineering Innovation Centre is a key part of the university’s £200million campus masterplan.

They plan to train 500 graduates in aerospace, mechanical and engineering tech and engineering each year.

Piling activities on the six storey building have begun.

Chief operating officer at the university Michael Ahern said: “The start of work on site marks another exciting milestone for our Campus Masterplan and the creation of a powerful hub for developing and nurturing skills.

“The EIC will address the skills deficit in engineering specialists in Lancashire and nationally. A skilled engineering workforce is essential for the economy and the benefit of wider society.

“It has an important part to play, not just in confirming Lancashire’s role as a national centre for advanced manufacturing, but in maintaining the UK’s international leadership in engineering and innovation.”

Read more: See how UCLan’s campus will look by 2020

The building is expected to be complete by 2019 and Manchester-based BAM are leading the construction.

Project manager Simon Atkinson said: “We are thrilled to have started construction of such an exciting building for UCLan and the first project in the Masterplan, that will transform the campus and the city of Preston.

“This is our 34th university project in the north west, so our team understands the importance of both minimising disruption and engaging staff, students and the local community in the project as much as possible.”

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