Willmott Dixon has won a £20m contract to build a home for the Met Office's new supercomputer.

Located at Exeter Science Park, the supercomputer will be able to predict better weather forecasts.

Willmott Dixon will build a facility over the next 14 months to house the final part of the supercomputer.

Once operational in 2017, it will provide additional capacity for the Met Office's existing high performance computing programme.


The facility was procured through the National Major Works Framework, one of six national frameworks provided by Scape Group.

Willmott Dixon will work alongside architect Stride Treglown, services engineer Arup and structural engineer WSP to deliver the facility.

Neal Stephens, managing director for Willmott Dixon in the South West, said: "This will be another important asset to our country’s technology sector, providing us with one of Europe’s biggest supercomputers inside an iconic building that we will create."

Dave Underwood, Met Office Deputy Director for the High Performance Computing Programme, added: "High performance computing is an essential component of everything the Met Office does and the first phase of the new supercomputer is already operational, five weeks ahead of schedule."

(LM)