Glass Futures, Network Space Developments, St Helens Borough Council, Liverpool City Region, MPs Marie Rimmer and Connor McGinn and contractor Bowmer & Kirkland welcomed UKRI and BEIS to the St. Helens site, to mark the ground-breaking of the Glass Futures Centre of Excellence
The Glass Futures Centre of Excellence, a global glass research and innovation facility, is expected to complete in January 2023.
Network Space Developments (NSD) has appointed building contractor B&K to deliver the building at Saints Retail Park, occupying a site with links to the historic glass industry for which the town is famed.
The project delivery is being managed by NSD, on behalf of a partnership including not-for-profit research organisation Glass Futures , St Helens Borough Council, the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and UKRI (UK Research & Innovation).
The partnership has turned the Glass Futures concept into a deliverable and contracted scheme in less than two years. NSD will continue to manage the delivery of the project through to practical completion.
The development has been presold by NSD to global investor Standard Life Investments Property Income Trust to secure forward funding and conclude a viable delivery strategy.
The building has been pre-let to St Helens Borough Council on a 15-year head lease and will be sub-let to Glass Futures, which will occupy and manage the building to deliver industry and government backed research and development projects focused on decarbonising glass production.
The centre will also provide a platform for the industry to access an experimental scale furnace to test and run trials for implementation at a commercial scale on a state-of-the-art line, both collaboratively and individually.
‘A significant role in the Green Industrial Revolution’
St Helens Borough Council leader, David Baines, said: “It’s great to be here today to see construction begin on Glass Futures, the state-of-the-art, globally significant project.
“Over the next year, the glass research and innovation facility will be built on the brownfield site of the former United Glassworks, with a focus on decarbonising glass production.
“It will once again put St Helens at the forefront of glass innovation and help us play a significant role in the Green Industrial Revolution, leading the way for other industries to cut their carbon emissions.
“The fact that work has begun only two years since the scheme was conceived is testament to some exceptional partnership working, and I’d like to thank Glass Futures and everyone involved for their efforts in getting us to this stage.”
‘Building back from the economic fallout from Covid-19’
Steve Rotheram, mayor of the Liverpool City Region, commented: “Just a few months ago, the UK hosted world leaders at the COP26 summit in Glasgow.
“It was agreed there that urgent action is needed to tackle the emergency we face from climate change. Glass Futures is a prime example of how we can do that – whilst also building back from the economic fallout from Covid-19.
“St Helens has always been a global leader in the glass industry and Glass Futures will be a key part of making sure it retains that role in the future of the industry as it decarbonises, whilst being a key driver for jobs and skills.”
‘A substantial steppingstone to cutting emissions’
Glass Futures’ chief executive, Richard Katz, also stated: “With the ground-breaking ceremony, Glass Futures has reached a real milestone in the delivery of its Global Centre of Excellence for glass in R&D, innovation and training.
“Due for completion next year, we will be targeting the elimination of carbon from mass production in the glass industry, as well as other Foundation Industries.
“For the future of mankind, it’s essential the world wakes up to the damage it’s doing to itself and collectively acts now to dramatically reduce fossil fuel emissions whether from industry, transport, agriculture or domestic heating. “
“The Glass Futures’ hot glass experimental facility is a substantial stepping stone to cutting emissions, designed to work both collaboratively or privately with industry to identify and deliver sustainable alternatives to fossil fuels. We welcome any approaches from potential industrial partners who want to join us on this journey.”
