The £20m project, due for completion in late 2018, will see the design and construction of a new 77,000 sq ft laboratory facility for Newcastle City Council.

When complete in late 2018, the building will provide bespoke laboratory space, offering incubation space to meet the needs of innovative businesses in the life science and healthcare sector.

Newcastle Science Central is a new urban quarter in the centre of Newcastle and will provide 500,000 sq ft of office space.

The largest development of its kind in the UK, it aims attract leading scientific and technology organisations to the area.

Brian McQuade, managing director of Kier Construction Scotland and north east, said: “Kier has extensive experience delivering research facilities and we’re proud to be providing the latest addition to Science Central development as it continues to expand.”

Newcastle Laboratory is being funded by Newcastle City Council, the North East Growth Deal, as well as European Regional Development Fund.