A new aircraft factory is being built at Bombardier's site in east Belfast, representing a positive boost to both Belfast Harbour Estate and also to NI's economy, writesCarla Liébana.

The new 600,000 sq ft facility, which started in October, is being built in two phases and will incorporate the manufacturing and assembly process for wings for the CSeries, a new revolutionary commercial aircraft.

Scott Wilson (Design Consultancy) is leading its design and providing full multidisciplinary services of architecture, civil and structural engineering, mechanical and electrical engineering and digital media expertise.

The firm has worked closely with Bombardier to develop the project, which will ensure maximum energy efficiency, and will incorporate low energy solutions into its mechanical and electrical infrastructure.

Its design is being optimised for the production process and to minimise environmental impact, specially focusing in waste segregation and recycling.

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Despite its large scale - with a perimeter of half a mile when fully completed - will sit within the existing industrial location.

The main production floor space will also be naturally lit during daylight hours, with a high ratio of translucent roof lights.

The first works began in May 2009 with the installation of 2,500 piles along with 12,000m3 of concrete and within a 20-week period, by last month, 5,000 tons of structural steel will have been erected. The structure requires 10 acres of insulated metal cladding, too.

Around 400 engineering and support staff are engaged in the research and development of the wings and approximately 450 construction personnel are involved in this first phase.

Moreover, around 800 jobs will be generated during full production - and many more in the wider supply chain.

Trevor Leaker, Scott Wilson's Technical Director in charge of the project, commented: "Not only is the building for one of Northern Ireland's largest and most technologically advanced companies, the sheer scale of the project is immense."

The official ceremony marking the construction of the new CSeries aircraft factory took place on 17th November at the site with NI Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster and representatives from Bombardier, Scott Wilson and the contractor, John Sisk and Son (Building Contractors).

The rest of main contractors involved in the construction of the CSeries wing facility are: Turner & Townsend (Project Managers); Fisher Engineering Ltd (Steel Fabricators); Weir and McQuiston Ltd (Mechanical & Electrical Engineering Contractors); Rotary Group Ltd (Building Services Engineers).

See: Belfast Aerospace Base 'Takes Off'

(CL/BMcC)