The £18m project will see the firm build a 43,000 sq ft grade A office complex at the site between Runcorn and Warrington.

The Project Violet scheme involves construction of two buildings providing 12,500 sq ft each and a third building providing 18,000 sq ft.

Buildings will be three storeys high and situated at the gateway of the campus near Liverpool.

Steve Rotheram, Metro Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, announced a crucial £8m funding contribution to the project on Tuesday.

The development includes the extension and improvement of the existing highways network with the creation of a new access road to serve the Project Violet site and future development sites to the east.

Key subcontract packages are being let with Cara taking the brickworks and Briggs & Forrester the MEP work.

John Downes, CEO of Langtree and chairman of Sci-Tech Daresbury, said: “The groundbreaking ceremony and funding confirmation mark two important milestones for not just Project Violet but also the development of the wider campus.

“These new buildings are a pivotal addition to the site, and will allow us to provide a home for more innovative businesses of all different sizes, from dynamic start-ups to established global firms.