ONE of the North West’s biggest business parks is building a £1.2m conference centre.

MEPC Birchwood Park in Warrington is aiming to have the facility – known as The Centre – completed in September.

It will serve the national and regional conference market as well as the 150 businesses based on the 123-acre park.

Birchwood Park managing director Jonathan Walsh told LDP Business said The Centre will replace the existing facility which he says is no longer of an adequate standard to attract major corporate events.

He said: “Our conference venue is already well-established but I would only describe it as acceptable.

“We have decided to raise our game.”

When the conference centre is completed it will have a new tree-lined entrance and reception area off Faraday Street, the park’s main artery, with free car parking for delegates on site.

Overlooking its own lake, the facility will cater for meetings of all sizes from two people up to 168 with a choice of seven meeting rooms all with LCD projection, break-out space and a 168 seater lecture theatre with the latest audio visual equipment .

A city centre-style café with Starbucks coffee will offer a variety of ready-made and bespoke snacks.

For those who want a more discreet meeting place, The Hub will provide a business lounge with waitress service and acoustic booths.

All customers and delegates will have access to free high-speed Wi-Fi.

The Garden restaurant will offer a range of self-service meals, including healthy options, and provides a selection of hot and cold dishes with food service throughout the working day.

Where possible, food will be locally sourced. It will be cooked on the premises daily, and all diets catered for. Mr Walsh added: “Birchwood is the powerhouse for business in Warrington and Cheshire and therefore our facilities attract park occupiers and a wide range of businesses from Birchwood itself.

“Our research with our own occupiers pointed the way with this project. They wanted state of the art facilities for conferences and meetings from two delegates upwards and a standard for food and beverages that you would expect from a city centre venue.

“At the same time, we will be actively marketing the attractions and competitiveness of the centre to a much wider business audience.”