Wates Construction has been appointed to deliver the much-anticipated expansion of the Farnborough International venue in Hampshire, adding to its growing project portfolio in the south.

Awarded a contract valued at approximately £30m, Wates has been tasked with building the new Farnborough International Exhibition and Conference Centre at the historic home of the Farnborough International Airshow. 

Building work is expected to commence in September and will see the creation of a new state-of-the-art double-height exhibition hall alongside function and meeting rooms.

Designed by architects, Terence O’Rourke, the development will comprise a 12,500 sqm exhibition hall to support Farnborough International’s expansion. The scheme will also include multi-purpose function rooms and restaurants, taking the entire new facility to 20,000 sqm of event space.

The new development has been part-funded by the Local Enterprise Partnership, Enterprise M3, Hampshire County Council, Rushmoor Borough Council and Barclays. Completion is expected to be reached by early 2018.

Michael Watton, Venue Director for Farnborough International Exhibition and Conference Centre said: “The new exhibition and conference centre is an extremely important project for Farnborough International and is a marker of our ongoing growth and long-standing reputation for national and international events and conferences. We look forward to the start of construction and to working in partnership with Wates to deliver this excellent scheme.”

Peter Whitmore, Business Unit Director, Wates Construction Southern Home Counties & South West, commented: “Wates’ southern project portfolio has grown extensively in size and diversity over the course of the past few years and our role in the expansion of Farnborough International’s estate is a mark of the extensive expertise our team continues to build.

“The months leading up to September will be spent working closely with our client to ensure that we understand and deliver on their aspirations for an exceptional multi-purpose event space that befits an international centre for high profile business events.”

Wates’ current projects across the South East and South West currently includes the development of University of Southampton’s Boldrewood Campus, the expansion of Signature Senior Lifestyle’s estate and the recent completion of PATRIZIA’s 1030 Winnersh Triangle in Reading.