Projects · Applied AI

Central Laser Facility, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Harwell Campus, Oxfordshire·Under wayApplied AI

Vulcan 20-20 laser upgrade (Central Laser Facility)

  • StageUnder construction; Mace Construct signed main contract, moving from enabling works into main construction
  • Next milestoneConstruction completion expected 2027, then commissioning and scientific operations
  • Last checked1 November 2026
Source: Mace, Mace Construct signs main contract for world-leading Vulcan 20-20 laser facility →

What has changed on this project, and when

  • Next milestone: Construction completion expected 2027, then commissioning and scientific operations2 November 2026 · previously: Completion of the facility building and installation/commissioning of the laser systems
  • Stage: Under construction; Mace Construct signed main contract, moving from enabling works into main construction2 November 2026 · previously: Under construction, ground broken 28 Nov 2025, substructure works under way (Mace); CLF states £85m (pin says £83m, align value)
  • Value: Not disclosed2 November 2026 · previously: £83m (UKRI)

More Applied AI projects

The Wire is a free email every weekday morning. It brings you what regulators, government departments, network operators and developers have published, each item dated and linked to its source. Sign up and it lands in your inbox.