£10m investment to drive life science sector
A £10m investment in the North of England’s life science infrastructure was confirmed today (Friday, December 14), as Bruntwood SciTech, the creator of innovation districts, announced the speculative development of more than 50,000 sq ft of laboratory space at Alderley Park’s Mereside life science campus in Cheshire.
The Park is already the subject of a £160m of investment by Bruntwood SciTech, and the new labs are designed for smaller companies who will be able to access the ready-to-go chemistry and biology laboratories, ranging from 500 sq ft to 2,000 sq ft, from Spring 2019.
Bruntwood SciTech, the joint venture between property company Bruntwood and Legal & General Capital which owns Alderley Park, also confirmed that it is committed to adding a further 100,000 sq ft of laboratories in future phases of development at the park, with new labs of up to 15,000 sq ft, suitable for larger life sciences businesses.
Dr Chris Doherty, managing director of Alderley Park, said: “We see strong demand for high quality space and have great confidence in what we can offer – world class facilities and competitive rates, all within the context of a deep talent pool, a well-functioning ecosystem, business support, and a lifestyle offer that just works for people.
“The North West is a great place to start a science or technology-focused business and equally well placed for overseas companies to establish a UK base.”
More than 200 fast-growing SMEs employing more than 2,000 people are already based at Alderley Park.
The community features some of Europe’s fastest-growing bioscience companies, including Concept Life Science and Evotec, along with the UK Government’s Medicines Discovery Catapult and the AMR Centre, a public-private organisation leading the UK’s response to the health crisis around antimicrobial resistance.
Confirmation of the new laboratory space follows on from the announcement of a further development at the Park ‘Glasshouse’, which will offer 150,000 sq ft of high specification, collaborative workspace designed for tech companies and forward-thinking, innovative businesses, and is set for completion in Summer 2019.
New amenities in the wider redevelopment of Alderley Park include a new gym in September 2019, an 8,000 sq ft pub and restaurant in the Grade II-listed Tenants Hall, a farm shop in the former Stanley Arms, and 21 newly-created boutique guest rooms.
Three residential housing schemes are also currently progressing at the Park, through PJ Livesey, PH Homes and Bellway.
