The new centre will help the university establish a world-leading presence in systems biology and the newly emerging disciplines of cellular engineering and systems biomedicine.

The schemet has been procured through the Construction Framework South West (CFSW) and is the largest project to date to have been awarded through the framework.

Gary Campbell-Dykes, Business Unit Director for Wates Construction said: “We are delighted to have been selected by the University of Exeter to construct the new world class Living Systems building.

“It is a testament to our flexible and sympathetic approach to the construction phase and the strength and experience of the team that we will be working onsite during the University being open to students.”