Lift-off for £233m Space City

One of the UK’s largest and most connected Enterprise Zones for space-related activities has formally taken lift-off in Leicester this week.

An astronomical £233m has been invested in new and planned facilities at Space City Leicester, which forms part of the Pioneer Park development to the north of the city centre.

The huge scheme encompasses the University of Leicester’s science and innovation hub, Space Park Leicester, the National Space Centre and the business incubator facilities at Dock and Dock 2.

Plans for a new innovation workspace, Dock 3, and new industrial and business incubator facilities at Abbey Court are also in the works.

Space City Leicester is dedicated to all aspects of space research, production, manufacture and development. It has been delivered by a partnership consisting of DOCK, Leicester City Council, Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership (LLEP), the National Space Centre, Space Park Leicester and the University of Leicester.

The development is expected to contribute £750m per year to the UK space sector over the next decade whilst supporting over 2,500 direct and indirect jobs.

It is part of the Loughborough and Leicester Science and Innovation Enterprise Zone.

Leicester City Mayor Sir Peter Soulsby said: “Space City Leicester has put our city firmly on the map for research production and manufacture in the space industry, but the good news doesn’t end there as further expansion is planned to meet the demand from businesses keen to locate here from the UK and overseas.”

Andy Reed OBE, co-chair of the Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership (LLEP), added: “Space City Leicester combines world-leading expertise with major assets such as Space Park Leicester and the National Space Centre to boldly build on what we have here in Leicester and Leicestershire.

“It will create a world-leading cluster of research and development that will bring growth, investment, and many hundreds of jobs to our region.”