03 March 2010
Construction begins on next phase of Daresbury Science and
Innovation Campus
Construction of a major new facility for high-tech businesses,
Vanguard House, began officially this week on the Daresbury Science
and Innovation Campus (Daresbury SIC).
Steven Broomhead, Chief Executive of the Northwest Regional
Development Agency (NWDA) which is funding the project, officially
broke the soil on the site of the building, which will provide
3,300 sq m (36,000 sq ft) of accommodation and heralds the next
stage of development of the internationally recognised
Campus. It follows on from the hugely successful Daresbury
Innovation Centre and is set for completion in the first quarter of
2011.
Mr Broomhead was accompanied by representatives of two of the
Campus’ stakeholders: George Baxter, Director of Science and
Innovation at the NWDA and Dr Richard Blake, Director of the
Computational Science and Engineering Group at the Science and
Technology Facilities Council (STFC). Joining them was Dave
Northey, Contracts Manager for the main contractor VINCI
Construction UK, along with Clive Marshall, Managing Director of
Link Information Technology and David Lovett, Managing Director of
Perceptive Engineering, both currently located on the Campus and
keen to explore the benefits of the new building.
Vanguard House will provide office, laboratory and workshop
space in units between 94 sq m – 231 sq m (1,000 sq ft – 2,450 sq
ft) providing the logical next step for the rapidly growing
companies already on the Campus, whilst attracting high-tech
businesses from across the region and beyond. It takes the NWDA’s
total investment in the Campus to over £67m.
As well as offering high quality office, laboratory, workshop,
meeting room and reception facilities, the building will provide
access to the wider Campus and its R&D, conference, leisure and
catering facilities and will place Campus companies at the heart of
Daresbury SIC’s expanding high-tech network.
Steven Broomhead, Chief Executive of the NWDA, said: “This new
building is a crucial next stage in the development of Daresbury
Science and Innovation Campus. The investment by the NWDA in the
Campus has proved to be a great success with almost 100 companies
now on site and high demand for this next stage of development. I
am delighted to be breaking the ground on site today, marking the
start of construction on this important building for the Campus and
the region.”
Professor Colin Whitehouse, Deputy Chief Executive of STFC,
said: “This is a very significant day and a clear indicator of the
continued success of the Daresbury SIC model in providing access
for businesses to world-class science, technology and computational
expertise at STFC Daresbury Laboratory. Vanguard House is one
of a number of major developments for the Campus as we are poised
to go ahead with the new Hartree and Detector Systems gateway
centres and are establishing a major new accelerator centre.
This is an invaluable addition to Daresbury SIC’s offering to
high-tech businesses, set to bring new investment to the North
West.”
Councillor Rob Polhill, Deputy Leader of Halton Borough Council,
added: “This grow-on building, Vanguard house, is evidence of
further investment by the NWDA and funding for this new building
takes the investment by the Agency on the Daresbury Science and
Innovation Campus to more than £67m. I am sure it is money
sensibly invested which will have major benefits locally, at a
regional level and both nationally and internationally”.
Clive Marshall, Managing Director of Link Information Technology
Ltd said: “Being a director of several high-tech companies which
have developed rapidly due to the excellent working environment,
together with strong technical and business support from the
Daresbury Science and Innovation Campus, I am certain that Vanguard
House will provide next step growth space for us. I am sure that
this will prove to be an excellent investment for the
region.”
Ends
Notes to Editors:
Photographs of the sod-cutting event accompany this
release
Further information about Vanguard House can be found at
www.daresburysic.co.uk/vanguardhouse