Willmott Dixon, a privately owned contracting and interior fit-out group, has been awarded a contract for City of Doncaster Council’s Gateway One development, a new 52,000ft² Grade A office building located on Trafford Way in Doncaster, England.
The £32m ($41.5m) project is set to commence next month, with a completion target of January 2027.
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Adjacent to Doncaster’s train station, the Gateway One development is poised to become a hub for digital technology, with a particular focus on AI.
Doncaster mayor Ros Jones said: “This pioneering building – right in the heart of Doncaster city centre at the train station gateway – is part of our plans to regenerate and modernise key areas of the city centre.
“Our aim is to create a new digital hub which will bring exciting new opportunities for Doncaster including jobs, economic growth, increased footfall and put Doncaster at the forefront of the changing economy and technological change as we strive to become a regional Artificial Intelligence (AI) Growth Zone.”
The project, which includes an area of public open space, will span five floors and feature two commercial units on the ground floor, designed to accommodate alfresco dining.
Funding for the development is primarily sourced from the Doncaster Town Deal fund and is being overseen by the new city centre board’s Town Deal Board.
The development is expected to achieve net-zero operational carbon, attain an energy performance certificate rating of A, and meet the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Methodology Excellent standard.
Gateway One targets businesses specialising in digital technologies, with global AI company Automatic Analytics among the first expected to move in.
Willmott Dixon Yorkshire director Chris Yates said: “Our team of local commercial experts will bring a wealth of experience and innovation to Gateway One. In partnership with the City of Doncaster Council, we will create a cutting-edge and sustainable hub where digital and technology businesses can thrive and grow in this city.
“We’re passionate that innovation will be a catalyst for creating opportunities for the people of Doncaster, so, in partnership with our proud local supply chain partners, we are committed to creating six new employment opportunities directly on the project. Through our bespoke ‘Building Lives Academy’ initiatives in collaboration with Advance Employment Hub, we also aim to deliver more than 650 hours of impactful employment support for local people furthest from the job market, those at risk of redundancy and those looking to transition into the construction industry.”
Willmott Dixon has also recently celebrated a significant milestone with the topping out of the Chiswick Health Centre project in London, UK.
