WORK has started on road improvements around the Dyson factory site at Malmesbury.

The work, due to be completed by the spring, aims to improve traffic flow and open up opportunities for future expansion with a new research and development centre and technology campus.

The Swindon and Wiltshire Local Enterprise Partnership (SWLEP) secured £1.4m of Growth Deal funding towards the project, with Wiltshire Council providing the remainder of the cost up to a total maximum of £2m.

The SWLEP is focussed on maximising key growth opportunities. Strengthening the role of the area as one of the UK’s leading hubs of innovation, and driving growth through innovation, is central to the organisation’s Strategic Economic Plan.

Dyson’s Technology Park will give both a direct and indirect boost to local employment, contributing towards the resilience of the rural economy.

The essential highways improvements around the site will support Dyson’s goal to double its research and development footprint and recruit up to 3,000 more engineers.

Fleur de Rhe-Philipe, Wiltshire Council cabinet member with responsibility for economic development and skills, said: “Dyson is a global innovation-led business of significant importance to Wiltshire and Swindon as a major high value employer.

"This prestige engineering firm has taken a strategic decision to invest in Malmesbury, providing it can expand research and development facilities and associated infrastructure on their site.

"The provision of improved local transport infrastructure is central to this process.”

Barry Dennington, Chair of the SWLEP, said: “Dyson’s planned expansion is a major vote of confidence in Wiltshire and the UK. That’s why it’s vital we work with Dyson to help remove any barriers to the expansion of its Wiltshire headquarters in Malmesbury.

"The SWLEP is here to drive and deliver positive change – to push forward innovation and regenerate the business landscape of Swindon and Wiltshire to attract investment.”

John Shipsey, Chief Financial Officer for Dyson, said: “Our expanding research and development centre will create a leading technology hub in the heart of the South West. Our investment will create over 3,000 jobs, contributing to the vision for a thriving, balanced economy and we are very grateful for this support.”

The improvement works will see:

• The B4014 Tetbury Road/Tetbury Hill junction converted from a ghost island priority junction to a roundabout (the Dyson headquarters is located at Tetbury Hill)

• The B4014 Filands/A429 Crudwell Road junction converted from restricted priority junction to a four-arm roundabout; and

• A429 Whychurch Roundabout (A429/B4040): revise road markings and hatchings on the southbound A429 approach to this roundabout.