Global sustainable development consultancy Arup is supporting Siemens Mobility to develop the design of a new state-of-the-art factory, digital engineering and R&D facility in Chippenham, Wiltshire. The site reflects an investment of £100 million by the company.

Supported by architect AHR, Arup is developing the design of the new facility which is expected to be operational by 2026 and will replace the current rail infrastructure site. The new site will house around 800 manufacturing, research, engineering and support staff.

Siemens’ new Chippenham site, located south of Langley Park at SouthPoint Business Park, will feature an office built to BREEAM 'Excellent' standard – making it in the top 10% of buildings covered by the sustainability certification. The production and warehouse areas will meet strict sustainability criteria, evaluated across various categories including energy, water, waste, health, wellbeing or materials. BREEAM certified developments generate sustainable environments that enhance the wellbeing of the people who live and work in them, promoting benefits for both society and the environment.

The Arup-led design team will provide all design and engineering expertise to develop the project. The factory is being planned with the latest standards for highly efficient production, while the offices designed to provide a modern, welcoming work environment to enable better collaboration and innovation for the UK railway sector. The interior will be modelled to account for the ‘new normal’ in working practices, with many open and collaborative meeting spaces, improved facilities, relaxation areas and advanced technology. The site, designed to blend in with its surroundings, will undergo an ecological assessment aiming for a 10% net increase in biodiversity through the planting of native plants and the creation of wildlife habitats.

Arup and AHR’s track record in collaborating to create advanced industrial projects in the UK has included Airbus’s AIRTEC facility in Bristol and the design of Siemens’ new train manufacturing facility in Goole.

What they say

This £100 million investment is a strong commitment to Chippenham and our country. Siemens Mobility’s Chippenham site, along with our 30 sites across the country, has been transforming rail travel and transport in Britain – and it will continue to do so with cloud-based rail technology connecting the real and the digital worlds, digitalising rail. We are very excited to soon start construction of one of the most sophisticated rail factories, digital engineering and R&D sites in the UK, supporting local jobs and skills for the future. There is a piece of Britain in everything we build. 

Rob Morris

Joint CEO, Siemens Mobility in the UK & Ireland

Led by our local Bristol team, Arup will draw on its global expertise in designing world-class manufacturing facilities to ensure this new facility is a ground-breaking environment for the Siemens team in Chippenham. We are proud to support the development of a technologically advanced facility that will enable Siemens Mobility to meet the growing demand in rail technology as well as be a key employer in the region – a significant boost to the UK’s manufacturing capability.

Dan Birch

UK, India, Middle East and Africa Industry Leader

AHR is delighted to collaborate with Arup to deliver this innovative, state-of-the-art facility for a client with sustainability principles embedded within its culture and production process. This exciting project will deliver huge benefits for Chippenham – in terms of skills and generating employment – and we’re proud to be part of the design team helping bring this project to fruition.

Bill Storer

Regional Director, AHR