Wates Constructionhas been selected as pre-construction stage partner on the redevelopment of the British Library site at Boston Spa, West Yorkshire.

The 45-week pre-construction services consultant (PCSC) role will see Wates working alongside the client's design team up to RIBA Stage 4 with services engineer, Buro Happold and London-based, architectural practice, Carmody Groarke.

The scheme involves the construction of a new 28m high, 5274m2 fully automated net zero carbon archive building which will feature a public viewing gallery and 220km of extra shelf space together with an extensive renovation of the nearby 1970s Brutalist-style Urquhart Building for the library’s 550 on-site staff, including a new reading room, restaurant and café for visitors.

Sustainability will be an integral feature of the programme, including the creation of new and improved green spaces to support biodiversity and enhance the natural environment surrounding the site.


Working in close collaboration with its design team partners, Wates will work with its supply chain to help develop the design and accurately cost the project so that at the end of the 45-week period the final contract price can be agreed.

During this early phase, the contractor will also use its tried and tested approach to creating airtight buildings by constructing large-scale prototypes. These will be used to test the design theories needed to fulfil the exacting sustainability criteria – in the case of the new build, to achieve BREEAM ‘Outstanding’ and Passivhaus Accredited ratings, while the renovated Urquhart Building has been designed to achieve BREEAM ‘Excellent’.

David Wingfield, Regional Director North East, Wates Construction, said: "We are delighted with our appointment. We know from past projects that the most critical success factors when constructing airtight buildings are genuine partnership and teamwork, for which Wates Construction has a proven track record. This project will set the standard for facilities of this type worldwide. Nothing like this archive has been built in the UK before, where the environment is completely airtight, and when complete, a fully automated racking and robotics system will be used to retrieve documents.

"It is both a fascinating and challenging project to work on, requiring cutting edge sustainable design solutions, and given its novel, world-beating status, a highly-coveted role for any contractor to secure."