Swansea University: Building work starts on new £450m science campus

Building work is starting on Swansea University's £450m second campus on the outskirts of the city.

About 4,000 direct jobs will be created during the construction phase with a further 6,000 indirect posts supported in the wider economy as a result.

Preparatory work on the Science and Innovation Campus started in April.

The first phase of the project on the 69-acre site off Fabian Way will cost £250m and is expected to be completed by the summer of 2015.

First Minister Carwyn Jones was the guest of university vice-chancellor Prof Richard B Davies on Thursday to mark the start of the work.

He used the occasion to announce that a further £32m investment had been secured at the site to create a Engineering Manufacturing Centre.

More than £20m of the cash is from EU regional funds, and backed by the European Investment Bank.

Mr Jones said the investment would help drive forward the development of the campus, "creating a cornerstone" for research and employment opportunities in construction industry as work gets underway.

He added: "I welcome the opportunity to be here on this significant day not only to mark the start of construction but also, crucially, to acknowledge the benefits to Wales of our relationship with Europe, including EU funding."

Oil giant BP originally donated the land for the campus, while Rolls Royce, Hewlett-Packard, Tata, Bell Labs and BAE will be involved in the project.

The university estimates the campus will contribute more than £3bn to the regional economy over the next 10 years.

It is set to include a research and testing facility operated in partnership with Rolls-Royce.

There will also be new teaching and research facilities for the university's engineering, business and economics, maths, and computer science departments as well as student residential accommodation.

The university's Singleton Park campus will also be regenerated.