Large Structures Innovation Centre to go ahead

The National Composites Centre (NCC), part of the High Value Manufacturing Catapult and the University of Bristol, has confirmed that the Large Structures Innovation Centre (LSIC) will be established on the Isle of Wight. The new facility will operate as an open‑access national hub supporting the development, testing and industrialisation of large, high‑performance structures, with an initial emphasis on wind‑energy applications.

The Isle of Wight was selected for its long‑standing base in advanced engineering and manufacturing, along with the industrial infrastructure required for large‑scale structural development. The location provides the space and operational conditions necessary for full‑scale production trials, automation advancements and real‑world materials validation outside of active manufacturing lines.

Designed to support industry from concept to end‑of‑life, the LSIC will provide end‑to‑end innovation capabilities aimed at accelerating the commercialisation of new large‑structure technologies. The centre is expected to enable companies of all sizes to shorten development cycles, improve manufacturing efficiency and enhance product performance as they scale toward industrial deployment.

NCC has also announced Vestas as the LSIC’s launch partner, expanding a long-running collaboration. Vestas has been a Tier One NCC member since the centre was founded, and in 2024 NCC and the Bristol Composites Institute were named among Vestas’ global technology partners for sustainable blade development. The new facility will complement Vestas’ established Isle of Wight manufacturing operations by providing an open‑access platform for full‑size blade trials, process optimisation and industrial‑scale innovation.

Purpose‑built environment
Demand for larger, higher‑performance structures continues to grow across the energy, construction and maritime sectors. The LSIC aims to address a long‑recognised gap in the UK’s capability for full‑scale development and validation of such components. By offering a purpose‑built environment for trialling new manufacturing methods and supporting supply‑chain readiness, it is intended to strengthen national industrial capacity and accelerate progress toward clean‑energy and growth targets.

NCC chief executive Richard Oldfield said: “This partnership marks an important step forward. With our Isle of Wight facility confirmed and Vestas as launch partner, the LSIC moves from concept to delivery — helping UK industry take on bigger engineering challenges, and giving businesses the space, capability and confidence to respond.”

Vestas senior vice president for research and development Anne Vedel said: “Vestas is proud to strengthen our partnership with NCC to drive innovation in the design and manufacture of the cutting‑edge composites that are the foundation for modern wind turbines. The new centre will complement our existing manufacturing and R&D activities on the Isle of Wight and help drive the innovation in advanced turbine technologies, which is identified as a key economic opportunity in the UK’s offshore wind Industrial Growth Plan.”

Vestas has operated on the Isle of Wight for more than 20 years, producing over 13,500 turbine blades and establishing a major base of research and development expertise in advanced blade technologies.