Shepherd Construction has won the contract to build the National Football Centre at Byrkeley Park near Burton upon Trent - the new home of the Football Association.

The company pipped rival Laing to the post to secure the £45m scheme, the details of which were announced last November.

Building Design Partnership is project architect, as well as structural and service engineering consultant for the 140 ha centre, the focus of which is a full size indoor pitch covered by Europe's largest laminated timber gridshell roof. Other facilities include a range of grass and synthetic pitches, sports science accommodation, gyms, hydrotherapy treatment rooms.

Player's accommodation will be housed in three separate wings each containing 50 rooms offering views of the countryside. Also on site are offices for the FA, England manager, facilities manager and technical director. Completion is due in 2004 in time for the countdown to the 2005 World Cup. Details: www.bdp.co.uk