Kier Construction has begun work on a new oral health innovation hub in Weybridge, Surrey.

Kier has signed a Pre-Construction Services Agreement (PCSA) with Haleon to deliver the facility, which will be a key space to support research and development for the global health provider, with brands including Sensodyne, Centrum, and Panadol working under one roof.

The four-storey building is designed to be a centre of global excellence for oral health life sciences research and innovation.

Kier representatives recently joined Haleon for a ground-breaking ceremony attended by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch, the UK Minister for Technology.

Kier says the new space will incorporate ‘state-of-the-art’ and digitally-enabled laboratories, contemporary office workspaces, and a dedicated consumer behavioural research facility.

A spokesman said: “Equipped with the latest technology, it will feature a cutting-edge digital immersive room that will bridge the gap between ideas and reality, connecting the hub to Haleon’s manufacturing site in Levice, Slovakia.”

The scheme will also feature a new car park building with 50% allocation for EV charging spaces, and site-wide landscaping and living roofs to enhance biodiversity.

David Rowsell, managing director for Kier Construction, London and Thames Valley, said: “We’re delighted to be part of a project that is so important to the UK economy and will provide a world-leading global hub for oral health life sciences, R&D, and innovation which is central to the UK’s Industrial Strategy.

“The scheme further reinforces our private sector experience and showcases our design and build expertise in delivering large-scale and innovation-led science and technology environments in the London and Thames Valley region.”