University awarded £4m in Budget for Jodrell Bank project

23 Nov 2017

Spectacular new gallery 'First Light' to engage visitors with stories of history and development of Jodrell Bank and radio astronomy

The University was awarded £4 million in yesterday’s Budget for the £20.5 million ‘First Light’ project at Jodrell Bank.

The project, which has already been awarded almost £12 million from the Heritage Lottery Fund, will create a spectacular new gallery in the Gardens at Jodrell Bank, which will engage visitors with the stories of the history and development both of Jodrell Bank and of radio astronomy.

This year, Jodrell Bank was also selected as the UK’s next candidate to go forward for nomination to UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

Teresa Anderson, Director of the Jodrell Bank Discovery Centre, said: “This is fantastic news (and quite a shock!) and means that this spectacular project will now go ahead. It’s testament to the brilliant work of the whole team that has created the plans and designs for this and we’re really looking forward to making it a reality.”

David Rutley, MP for Macclesfield, said: “I am delighted that the Chancellor has responded so positively to the request for funding for Jodrell Bank’s ‘First Light’ heritage gallery.

“This is a significant boost to the project and will make a huge difference in enabling this world-leading and iconic site to promote its history and inspire the next generation of scientists. I am very grateful to Professor Anderson and her colleagues for their outstanding hard work to get the project to this stage, and look forward to seeing this great initiative come to fruition.