In order to meet our key mission, investment must be made in AWE’s buildings, facilities and employees.
Modernisation projects and facilities are planned to cover AWE’s four essential areas of research - namely laser physics, hydrodynamics, materials science and high performance computing. In addition, proposed new office accommodation has been designed to facilitate modern working practices and provide a pleasant office environment for staff.
AWE is committed to ensuring that our operational and construction activities have minimum impact on the environment and the surrounding road network, while maintaining safety and security at all times.
Our site planning team looks after logistics planning for future developments on the site and handles our interfaces with West Berkshire Council, submitting planning applications and associated requirements.
For further details, download our Site Development Strategy (PDF 530KB) public information leaflet.
Orion Laser
The UK’s largest ever science project is being built at AWE. ‘Orion’ is an exciting, ambitious project to construct a world-leading laser facility for the creation and study of hot, dense matter.
Construction of the new Orion laser research facility is well underway, with full commissioning of the state-of-the-art laser expected by 2010. It will eventually replace AWE’s existing HELEN laser facility, giving our scientists access to extreme states of matter which exist nowhere else on earth.
The Orion facility, including associated office accommodation, meeting rooms and laboratories, will be approximately 100 metres long, 60 metres wide, and 25 metres high.
To read more about Orion, visit the Plasma Physics / Lasers webpage.
Gemini Office Accommodation
Planning permission has been granted to build new office accommodation at AWE’s Aldermaston site, and construction is underway.
Known as Gemini, the new accommodation will house up to 1,400 staff – most of whom already work on the Aldermaston site.
The total proposal for the application is 21,000 square metres of floor space, to be provided in two separate buildings which will be linked together.
This essential development is being built at the western end of the Aldermaston site, and is designed to modern, energy efficient standards.