Building Begins on Government-Funded Climate Research and Weather Centre in Reading

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15 July 2025

Construction has started on the new headquarters for the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts in Reading. 

The site at the University of Reading will be the largest cluster of weather and climate research and operational forecasting facilities in the world, alongside the University’s Department of Meteorology.

The European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) current home is in Shinfield Park, Reading, where they have been based for 50 years. The new building will accommodate up to 300 scientists and staff. 

To mark the milestone, a groundbreaking event was led by Lord Vallance, Minister of State for Science, Innovation and Technology. Stakeholders from the ECMWF, the Met Office, the Government Property Agency (GPA), the University of Reading, Mace, AtkinsRéalis and BDP were also in attendance.

Situated on the University of Reading’s Whiteknights campus, the project is funded through the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) and delivered by the GPA.

Florence Rabier, ECMWF Director General said: “ECMWF is an intergovernmental organisation with 35 member and cooperating states that have built a strong international collaboration with each of these countries’ meteorological services. As well as traditional numerical weather prediction and research, together with our member and cooperating states, we are spearheading the artificial intelligence/machine learning revolution in weather science for the benefit and protection of citizens.”

Mark Bourgeois, the GPA’s CEO added: “It is a landmark occasion to get construction underway of this new facility, which has been designed to industry-leading net-zero carbon standards. This project is a perfect example of cross-government collaboration which will deliver a modern, inspirational and energy-efficient headquarters for ECMWF’s forecasting, research and training functions, retaining a world-leading scientific organisation and attracting long-term investment into the region.

“It's another milestone for us at the GPA to deliver smart, modern, sustainable and digitally connected workplaces that focus on supporting productivity and wellbeing.”

It’s expected that the site will be ready for occupation in early 2027.

Picture: a photograph from the groundbreaking event with various stakeholders holding spades and wearing PPE. From left to right: Jonathan Richards (MACE Project Director), Andy Brown (Director of Research, ECMWF), Mark Bourgeois (Chief Executive of Government Property Agency (GPA), Lord Vallance, Penny Endersby (Chief Executive of Met Office and President of the ECMWF Council), and Professor Robert Van de Noort (Vice Chancellor, University of Reading). Image Credit: ECMWF

Article written by Ella Tansley | Published 15 July 2025

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