The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority

07 November 2011

 

Building the skills and education infrastructure needed to support the NDA's clean-up mission has taken its next step with the construction of a new world-class nuclear research centre in West Cumbria following. The Dalton Cumbrian Facility on Westlakes Science and Technology Park is the result of an initial £20m joint investment by the University and the NDA that will bring world-leading academic research to West Cumbria. Research at DCF will focus primarily on the areas of radiation science, radiochemistry, nuclear engineering decommissioning and the management of radioactive waste. It will complement and significantly expand the nuclear research and education capability of the UK's university sector and add to the growing research, education and skills infrastructure in West Cumbria, key elements in the Britain's Energy Coast programme that is designed to build on West Cumbria's world-leading capability in the nuclear industry to deliver diverse and sustained economic wellbeing for the area.

John Clarke, the NDA's Executive Director for Business Planning and Britain's Energy Coast Board member said:

"The need for a world class nuclear research centre was a key part of the NDA's skills strategy. Locating the DCF here in West Cumbria close to other key facilities such as the National Nuclear Laboratory and Energus will provide an overall package of education and skills excellence that will both support the NDA's clean up mission and the broader development of the local economy." 

Jamie Reed, MP for Copeland, said:

"The investment in the DCF is an important step in maximising the expertise that exists here in West Cumbria by building on the strength of the existing nuclear industry to create a solid economic future for the area. The new facility will add to the growing education and skills infrastructure in West Cumbria which will provide invaluable support to the development of Britain's Energy Coast."

Professor Andrew Sherry, Director of the Dalton Nuclear Institute, said:

'The University of Manchester's Dalton Cumbrian Facility will integrate with other facilities in the North of England to establish a truly unique and world-leading capability. Working closely with the NNL and other nuclear stakeholders, the DCF will create a seamless team of academic researchers and industrial experts to ensure that transformational research, and the development and deployment of technologies, addresses the most challenging nuclear issues'.

 

The University of Manchester have now taken ownership of the building which will become fully functional during 2012 following delivery and commissioning of a particle accelerator, the largest and most complex research equipment to be housed at DCF.

Once fully operational DCF will house around 50 post-doctoral and PhD researchers, academic lecturers and operating personnel and is expected to attract leading UK and overseas academics to carry out research and deliver lectures in West Cumbria.

DCF incorporates detailed computer modelling capability and large-scale experimental laboratories, including extensive irradiation facilities and associated analytical and inspection equipment, to provide a comprehensive research environment. Through DCF the University has unique academic access to the National Nuclear Laboratory's extensive R&D and engineering facilities, at the Central Laboratory, situated on the Sellafield site, and at Workington. This academic access is vital to support full lifecycle development and deployment of innovative technologies.

The Principal Contractor for the construction of DCF was Morgan Sindall. Property consultants Drivers Jonas Deloitte project managed the construction phase. Wilson Mason Architects designed DCF. The value of the main construction contract was £4.8m and around £2.2m of this was spent on local contractors and suppliers.