02 April 2008

Daresbury Science & Innovation Campus set to grow with £25m investment

The Minister for Science and Innovation, Ian Pearson, will today visit the Daresbury Science & Innovation Campus to announce an agreement that will realise the development of the crucial next phase of the Campus.

A new development across nine acres of land will deliver more than £25m of investment with the potential for up to 200,000 sq ft (18.500m2) of new accommodation and up to 1200 jobs.

The new development adjoins the existing Daresbury Innovation Centre and the Cockcroft Institute (the National Centre for accelerator science).

UK regeneration specialist, St Modwen has entered into a development agreement with Daresbury SIC and the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA), to continue the development of this internationally recognised location for hi-tech businesses and leading-edge science.

The first phase of development will be a new State of the Art ‘grow-on’ building called Vanguard House which will provide 35,000 sq ft. of office and laboratory space in units of between 1,000 and 7,000 sq ft.  This building will complement the Innovation Centre and provide a home for companies already on the Campus to grow into and high quality accommodation aimed at science and high tech companies across the country.

Directly managed by St Modwen the ‘grow-on’ building will offer reception, meeting and conference facilities for all companies on the campus and a high-tech IT service to its occupiers.

Construction of Vanguard House, will, subject to planning, commence in Summer 2008, with the building ready for occupation in Spring 2009. St Modwen plan a rolling programme of development of high quality buildings provided speculatively or to meet occupiers’ bespoke requirements.

A key part of the Minister’s visit will be learning about the ambitious long-term plans for the Campus from the board of Daresbury SIC. This will be followed by a meeting with directors from a number of the hi-tech companies already located on the Campus.

Mr Pearson said: “The Government is committed to Daresbury expanding as an internationally renowned centre of science and innovation. Today’s announcement demonstrates that the future for the site is an exciting one. The Northwest Regional Development Agency and its partners are to be congratulated for this next stage of development at Daresbury. Their vision for the site is strongly shared by the Government.”

George Baxter, Director of Science and Innovation at the NWDA, and Director of Daresbury SIC stated “This is a crucial next stage in the development of Daresbury SIC. The investment of over £50 million by the NWDA in the Campus has proved to be a great success with over 65 companies in situ and demand necessitating this next stage of development. We are delighted that St Modwen have confidence in the Campus and see the benefits of investing significant capital to realise the next stage of its growth.”

John Leake, General Manager of Daresbury SIC, added: “We are delighted to have the Minister here to make this announcement.  Vanguard House will provide a magnet for hi-tech businesses looking to draw on the unique combination of the scientific and business expertise at Daresbury SIC, supported by its extensive national and international network. It is a major step forward in the wider development of the campus and supports its position to be an internationally recognised community of scientific, innovation and entrepreneurial excellence”.

Michelle Taylor of St Modwen said: “This is a very high-profile location.  The first phase will enable both young and established science and knowledge based businesses to expand, and it will provide a catalyst to the campus’s continued development”.

She added that there was the opportunity for future developments to be designed to meet specific occupiers’ needs and that discussions were already progressing with one significant occupier.

St Modwen is already operating successful innovation centres at Cranfield University, Bedford and Longbridge, Birmingham, with a further centre coming online at Evolution Park, Blackburn.