Millbrook has secured funding as part of the government’s new £900million Getting Building Fund  through SEMLEP (the South East Midlands Local Enterprise Partnership) for an additional electrical feed to its Millbrook Proving Ground in Bedfordshire.

It will enable Millbrook to continue to expand its test facilities in Central Bedfordshire in support of the key themes of electrification, transitioning towards zero emission road transport and enhancing connected vehicle technologies.

Hilary Chipping, SEMLEP Chief Executive, said: “We are delighted to have secured more than £27m from government to help support economic recovery in this area.  These projects will support key priorities including skills for young people, the green recovery and innovation, which will all generate jobs. Last July we published our Local Industrial Strategy, laying out the priorities and interventions we needed to invest in to realise innovation, further improve connectivity and achieve sustainable growth. These Getting Building Fund projects meet these priorities and the needs of the local economy as we strive to recover economically from this pandemic.”

SEMLEP will carry out due diligence on each of the projects, which will be completed later this year. It is at this point that funding will be officially approved and funding agreements signed.