Morgan Sindall Construction has begun work on a second teaching building at ARU Peterborough.

The project marks the third phase of construction at the ARU Peterborough campus, with work focusing on the site of the former Regional Pool car park.

The new building incorporates a 'Living Lab' science facility. This facility will be publicly accessible with interactive, education space covering a range of topics within science, technology, engineering and maths.

The teaching space within the building will support the delivery of STEM courses with specialist labs as well as flexible teaching spaces and a social learning space.

The new building will be lower in height and smaller in size than the main University House. It is planned to meet the requirements of an ‘excellent’ BREEAM rating.

The planning application included an assessment of the many heritage assets in the area, including the Grade I Listed Peterborough Cathedral.

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Commenting on the project, Jamie Shearman, area director for Morgan Sindall Construction in Cambridgeshire, said: "As a regional business, it is great to be celebrating work commencing at the university as we are excited to be working alongside Peterborough City Council, the combined authority and of course, Anglia Ruskin University and the Pagabo framework.

"The development will have a hugely positive impact on the wider community in Peterborough, delivering real social value through the creation of high-quality jobs within our local supply chains, and opening up opportunities for training and development for the next generation of construction professionals in the region."

Reflecting on the impact construction will have on the campus, Professor Ross Renton, Principal of ARU Peterborough, said: "The close collaboration between partners has been truly remarkable throughout, and the third phase of ARU Peterborough, which is a long-term investment in the future of this region, is no different.

"ARU Peterborough has already made fantastic progress and we are already seeing immediate benefits since opening our doors to our first students last September. However, truly significant benefits for the region will be realised over the years to come when our highly skilled graduates start entering the local workforce, helping businesses to grow, and our academics and researchers are collaborating with local companies to jointly tackle the challenges of the future."