Northumberland specialist laboratory set for expansion via six-figure funding

A specialist highways laboratory in Cramlington is set for expansion as a £615k funding package is agreed by councillors.

The county council facility provides an independent material-testing service for all highway and bridge construction and maintenance in Northumberland, ensuring materials being used are correct and of good quality.

The laboratory is also the only local authority UKAS accredited highways materials laboratory in the North East of England and paid work is carried out for neighbouring local authorities and for other construction industries in the region.

The funding, approved by the County Council’s Cabinet, will be used to remodel the existing building to provide increased and improved workspace and to install specialist equipment and fittings. This will enable more staff to be accommodated in the building, improving work efficiency and capacity.

Northumberland County Councillor John Riddle, Cabinet member for Improving our Roads and Highways, commented: “The laboratory offers testing facilities for analysis of materials used in highway construction, civil engineering and general construction and we carry out paid work for other businesses.

“One of the key aims of the laboratory is to test materials to ensure they are durable and appropriate for the job in question thereby greatly reducing the risk of expensive future maintenance costs.

“There is significant scope for expansion of the current service given that external work is regularly turned down due to capacity constraints. The cost of the expansion will pay for itself in increased business which is an effective use of money for both the council and the taxpayer.”

By Matthew Neville – Senior Correspondent, Bdaily

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