THE MEPC Birchwood Park, in Warrington, has secured its largest deal this year after letting 17,000 sq ft of office space to the NationalŠNuclear LaboratoryŠ(NNL).

NNL, a nuclear technology services provider, is relocating from nearby Hinton House to Chadwick House.

The move marks theŠ firm’s independence fromŠthe now-defunct BNFL, which had been based at Hinton with its constituent parts since 1971.

InitiallyŠ accommodatingŠaround 150 people in the corporate, modelling, environmental management and engineering teams, NNL’s new home premises will facilitate anticipated expansion.

The firm aims to recruitŠbetween 20 and 30 people over the next three years.

NNL’sŠchoiceŠofŠChadwick House ensures it remains close to manyŠofŠits existing customers and partners.

NNL director of facilities, Leigh Wakefield, said: “As NNL enters a new era ofŠ growth independence, itŠ makes great senseŠfor us to move to a new location.

“WeŠ wanted toŠremain inŠtheŠarea to stay close to our contacts and to ensure minimal disruption to our employees’ travel arrangements.

“MEPCŠBirchwoodŠ ParkŠoffered a competitive deal, and the park’s amenities and on-site team are excellent.

“We look forward to expanding our business here.”

Birchwood Park already houses a number of companies working in the nuclear sector.

These include Amec Nuclear, Nuvia, Rolls-Royce, Serco Assurance and UKAEA.

MEPC Birchwood Park managing director,ŠJonathan Walsh, said: “We’re very pleased to welcome NNL to the park and are confident that it will continue to flourish within our growing nuclear community.

“It is a triumph for the park to have attracted another key company from the nuclear sector, in what is not only our biggest deal so far this year, but Warrington’s, too.”