Safran starts work on new Gloucestershire technology centre

Work has begun on a new facility for aerospace giant Safran’s aircraft landing gear division in Gloucestershire.

Safran Landing Systems, which makes and maintains wheels, brakes and other landing equipment for commercial and military aircraft, will see its current engineering base by Gloucestershire Airport replaced with a new technology centre.

Known within the company as its "engineering block", the 1930’s building on Cheltenham Road East - where work has been undertaken for Airbus plans and the Eurofighter Typhoon - is being demolished for a new-storey hub.

The new building, which will house more than 300 workers in mainly engineering design and product support offices, has been designed by local architects Robert Limbrick. Plans to include an open-plan atrium displaying landing gear from the “past, present and future”, in a nod to the production site’s history.

Safran said the new building will feature solar panels and insulation using recycled heat from a nearby heat treatment facility, as the group looks to cut carbon emissions by around a third across its global operations by 2025. The firm said its Gloucester site had seen a 28% reduction in both gas and electricity consumption since 2018.

Bosses, staff and apprentices at the firm and project manager E G Carters and Co were joined at a ceremony on site by local MPs Laurence Robertson and Richard Graham.

Nigel Woodford, managing director at Safran Landing Systems, said: “It was a pleasure to host Laurence Robertson and Richard Graham on site today, both of whom are supporters of our site and the contribution we make to engineering locally. Safran Landing Systems in Gloucester are investing in the future, the environment, in our people, products and infrastructure to maintain the leading position we have today.”

Thomas Jones, associate director at E G Carter, added: “We have already built up a great relationship with the Safran team and were therefore delighted to have been successful with the bid for the construction of the New Technology Centre. Collaborative working, teamwork and honesty, the key principles of E G Carter, will enable us to deliver such a fantastic looking, sustainable facility”.