01 September 2010
Networking Hub for Liverpool Innovation Park boosted with £4
million
Liverpool Innovation Park (LIP) operator Space North West is
investing £2.5 million, matched with £1.42 million from the
European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), to create a new
networking hub and business gateway to its Edge Lane site.
The Innovation Park (incorporating Wavertree Technology Park) is
a key element of Liverpool’s knowledge economy and a strategic site
for investment in the North West being delivered by Space North
West, a joint venture between the Northwest Regional Development
Agency (NWDA) and Ashtenne Industrial Fund and facilitated by
Liverpool Vision, the city’s Economic Development Company.
Scheduled for completion in early 2011, the Park’s new
networking hub will serve as an impressive reception, in which
tenants receive guests, meet like-minded entrepreneurs, exhibit
products and services, and access professional business support
services.
Space will also be created for a tenanted cafe-cum-bistro
overlooking attractive landscaped gardens, which together will
provide a focus for social activities on the Park.
Associated refurbishment works will also create 1,629 sqm of
Grade A out of town offices, ideal for knowledge-intensive
businesses requiring easy access to Liverpool’s busy business
district, its vibrant cultural heart, and Knowledge Quarter,
without city centre costs.
Wayne Locke, Ashtenne Regional Director leading the LIP Project,
said:
“Liverpool Innovation Park is already an excellent strategic
location for knowledge-intensive businesses and the new networking
hub will further enhance the Park’s offer and its ability to
contribute towards growing Liverpool’s Knowledge Economy.”
Contractors, Mansell Construction Services Ltd are due to start
work on site at Liverpool Innovation Park this month, which is
anticipated to be complete by the end of January 2011.
The design team appointed by Space Northwest comprises Archial
as architects, HFM as building services engineers, WYG as civil
& structural engineers and Todd & Ledson as quantity
surveyors.
Steven Broomhead, Chief Executive of the NWDA, said:
“Situated on Edge Lane, the gateway entrance route into the
city, Liverpool Innovation Park has already contributed to the
ongoing regeneration of the area. Improvements to the Park’s own
gateway and reception will attract further investment and tie into
the linear park.”
Mark Tock, the Park’s Innovation Manager, said:
“This investment in LIP’s innovation-campus environment will
create informal breathing space away from the office in which
entrepreneurs can innovate. We are grateful for the
assistance of partners at NWDA and Liverpool Vision for helping
make this project a reality.”
Liverpool Vision will continue to oversee the project as it
develops.
Max Steinberg, Chief Executive of Liverpool Vision, said:
“The Knowledge Sector is increasingly important to Liverpool and
its renaissance as an international city. We want Liverpool to
become an international knowledge centre with world leading
university and private sector expertise with research and
development centres of excellence with quality digital and physical
infrastructure.
“This site is at the heart of our ambition and this particular
project work will help invigorate the Innovation Park, giving it a
true sense of place and help attract more cutting edge knowledge
based industries.
“At the same time it forms part of the wider Edge Lane Project
which is about providing highway and environmental improvements to
complement the housing, community, commercial and retail
developments as well as helping to create new employment
opportunities.”
For more information about developments at Liverpool Innovation
Park call 01512614665 or email Mark.Tock@Ashtenne.co.uk or
visit www.liverpoolinnovationpark.com