NWDA budgets £9m for new Daresbury building

THE Northwest Regional Development Agency has earmarked between £7m and £9m for the next phase of development at Daresbury Science and Innovation Campus, as it takes control of the delayed project.

TheBusinessDesk reported in February that the NWDA was planning to take over the extension of Daresbury Science and Innovation Campus, after development partner St Modwen mothballed the project.

The development agency has published a pre-tender qualification document for the design and build of the 37,000 sq ft of office and laboratory space.

Previously called Vanguard House, and now referred to in the documents as Daresbury Building 3, the development will provide grow-on space for businesses coming out of the existing Daresbury Innovation Centre.

The three-storey building will be expected to achieve a BREAM Excellent rating, with the possibility of renewable energy sources being used to reduce the building’s carbon emissions.

A minimum of five bidders will be shortlisted in June for detailed tender submissions, with a final contract due to be agreed by November this year, and building works expected to take a further 15 months.