Construction of a new Advanced Manufacturing Centre facility in Wirral is underway, BAM has announced.

The 6,500m2 facility was designed by DLA Architects and is being built for consumer goods company Unilever.

The project involves developing a modern pilot plant at the company's Research and Development Site in Port Sunlight.

It will allow scientists and engineers to test new ideas during personal care/home care product development on a factory scale.

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The flexible facility will contain house replica equipment and conditions found at Unilever sites around the world.

Overall, BAM Construction will deliver both the enabling works and two-stage design/build contract.

A groundbreaking ceremony to mark the start of development took place on 23 November.

Cameron Jones, Unilever Port Sunlight site leader, said: "In building the Centre we are renewing our commitment to R&D in the UK and the North West.

"The Centre will complement existing and new facilities such as the Materials Innovation Factory currently under construction at the University of Liverpool due to open in early 2017, where new materials will be explored by our scientists that could then be further developed here at the Unilever Advanced Manufacturing Centre."

(LM/CD)