AN INNOVATION centre which will create up to 150 jobs has been officially taken over by a Hampshire council.

Colin Crowther, construction director at Bouygues UK, passed the keys of the Fareham Innovation Centre to Councillor Sean Woodward, leader of Fareham Borough Council.

Tours were given around the facility, which contains office space and workshops for new businesses focusing on the engineering, aerospace, aviation and marine industries.

Cllr Woodward said: “It’s hugely satisfying to reach this point with construction of the centre complete and new businesses starting to move in.

“It is particularly impressive that this building has been delivered so quickly – only 12 months ago we didn’t even own the land on which it was built.

“The companies based here will benefit from top-of-the-range support and facilities.

“In addition, the building also boasts strong green credentials, achieving a very good environmental score and having a roof covered in solar panels.”

The centre will be managed on behalf of the council by Oxford Innovation, which runs 21 centres across the UK.

It is part of an £8.3m investment from Fareham Borough Council and the Homes and Communities Agency at the Solent Enterprise.

Improvements The work includes improvements to the runway and building new hangar space, and the facilities are targeted at businesses which will be complementary to the Centre for Engineering and Manufacturing Advanced Skills Training (CEMAST).

Oxford Innovation says that it aims to provide businesses with a structured and supportive environment where companies can readily access first-class business support.

Chris Allington, managing director of Oxford Innovation’s business and innovation centres division, said: “It’s been a pleasure to work with Fareham Borough Council and Bouygues UK professional teams.

“We are proud to take on the project from here and after such an excellent construction phase.”