Exeter has won the Met Office relocation, beating the favourite, Reading. At 23,226m2 (250,000 sq ft), this is the largest relocation Exeter has landed.
The Meteorological Office is to take a 10ha (25-acre) site west of Exeter Business Park. The site has been assembled by developer Rockeagle, which obtained consent only last month.
“This has been a brilliant exercise between the private and public sectors in putting this bid together and winning it,” said Rockeagle director Nick Hole. “It was all put together in only four months.”
The Met Office wants to start relocating from its Bracknell site in summer 2002 and complete the move by March 2003.
The consortium responsible for constructing the building and installing facilities is to be chosen in the New Year.
One of the conditions of the relocation choice was excellent transport links with an international airport. Met Office chief executive Peter Ewins said he hoped Exeter airport would improve its links with Europe before the Met Office moved in.
Some 1,000 staff will relocate – a move that will boost local house prices. The Met Office, with a turnover of £150m pa, will also boost Exeter’s economy.
