AstraZeneca plans BioScience park in Alderley Edge

PHARMACEUTICAL giant AstraZeneca is planning to use £5m from the Government’s Regional Growth Fund to develop a “BioScience” cluster at its research and development site in Alderley Edge.

The Anglo-Swedish group will commit land and facilities and seek further investment and support from other partners.

Its aim is to create a hub for pharmaceutical innovation and biotech enterprise in the North West.

It says it wants to provide a “highly supportive environment to spin-out, nurture and attract innovative biomedical enterprises”.

Companies located on the site would have access to AstraZeneca’s facilities, “know-how and human capital”.Further details are expected in the next three to six months after the due diligence is carried out.

Martin Mackay, President of R&D at AstraZeneca said: “This initiative reflects the changing face of pharmaceutical R&D and our focus on collaboration to access and develop the best science and technology.

“Alderley Park is a site of critical importance to our global R&D organisation. By combining our capabilities with those of our partners and other enterprises, we aim to create a hub of scientific innovation with the potential to discover the medicines that people will need in years to come.”

Alderley Park project leader, Dr Chris Doherty, said: “A number of people have been working hard behind the scenes to get us to this stage. In particular, we are grateful for the support of Chancellor George Osborne and David Rutley MP, as well as Cheshire East Council, University of Manchester, Greater Manchester and Cheshire & Warrington Local Enterprise Partnerships and Bionow.”