Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) initially appointed Apex in August 2014 to support their property team who, at the time, were considering purchase of the Fen End facility from Prodrive. Our role included assessing all covenants on the land and the relationship with neighbours to the land.

Apex were subsequently appointed as a sub-consultant to Ridge and Partners in 2015 to undertake design and engineering of the facility upgrade for the track surfaces, which included a review of the existing test facility, an assessment of condition, a recommendation for realignment to allow for development space and track widening, together with a careful assessment of 3D topography both for high speed functionality for the vehicle test and development proposed on site and for adequate drainage off a fundamentally flat surface.

Included in this review was a detailed analysis of the existing banked corner and a new model for the wider banked section which would result from the track works. Apex also undertook a review of other operating vehicle proving ground facilities around the World and identified an appropriate suite of NVH (noise, vibration and harshness) test obstacles and other low-speed vehicle R&D test obstacles to be further developed as part of a design-and-build appointment to a contractor.

Apex were subsequently novated to Wates Engineering who were appointed by JLR as the contractor to undertake the construction works for the test track, including the high speed track, the banked corner, the NVH and low speed test facilities – all of which were the responsibility for Apex to define and engineer prior to construction drawings by others. Wates were also responsible for the delivery of the new buildings and general landscape and infrastructure which JLR required at the Fen End venue.

The facility was completed in 2017 and is in full time use as part of JLR’s vehicle test and proving ground infrastructure.