Global sustainable development consultancy Arup is supporting Siemens Mobility to develop the design of a new state-of-the-art factory, digital engineering and R&D facility in Chippenham, Wiltshire. The site reflects an investment of £100 million by the company.
Supported by architect AHR, Arup is developing the design of the new facility which is expected to be operational by 2026 and will replace the current rail infrastructure site. The new site will house around 800 manufacturing, research, engineering and support staff.
Siemens’ new Chippenham site, located south of Langley Park at SouthPoint Business Park, will feature an office built to BREEAM 'Excellent' standard – making it in the top 10% of buildings covered by the sustainability certification. The production and warehouse areas will meet strict sustainability criteria, evaluated across various categories including energy, water, waste, health, wellbeing or materials. BREEAM certified developments generate sustainable environments that enhance the wellbeing of the people who live and work in them, promoting benefits for both society and the environment.
The Arup-led design team will provide all design and engineering expertise to develop the project. The factory is being planned with the latest standards for highly efficient production, while the offices designed to provide a modern, welcoming work environment to enable better collaboration and innovation for the UK railway sector. The interior will be modelled to account for the ‘new normal’ in working practices, with many open and collaborative meeting spaces, improved facilities, relaxation areas and advanced technology. The site, designed to blend in with its surroundings, will undergo an ecological assessment aiming for a 10% net increase in biodiversity through the planting of native plants and the creation of wildlife habitats.
Arup and AHR’s track record in collaborating to create advanced industrial projects in the UK has included Airbus’s AIRTEC facility in Bristol and the design of Siemens’ new train manufacturing facility in Goole.