World-class science centre to create 100 jobs in Longbridge

A deal has been secured by Waters Corporation, to purchase a brand-new facility at Longbridge Business Park which will create more than 100 skilled jobs.

The acquisition from developer, St. Modwen follows planning permission being approved in August for a 45,000 sq ft new “industry-leading” science centre to be built across 3 acres. The move will deliver a 300% increase in available space for the firm in comparison to its existing premises in Solihull.

Waters Corporation, based in the US has more than 7,800 employees worldwide, and 1,000 employed across multiple facilities in England and Ireland. The firm provides analytical instruments and software, serving the life, materials, and food sciences for more than 60 years. 

Construction work starts in early 2023 and the specialist centre is scheduled to open in 2024.  When complete, the new Waters facility will provide a world-class centre developing high-value analytical technologies, and offering its customers scientific expertise.

Elliot Sellars, development director at St. Modwen, said: “This exciting new precision engineering facility for Waters will bring further specialist expertise to Longbridge. As the entire Longbridge regeneration continues it is encouraging to see industry leading businesses choosing this developing location as their base for operations”.
 
Upon completion, Longbridge Business Park will create up to 5,000 new jobs and has benefitted from infrastructure investment in partnership with the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA).

St. Modwen says the development is a sustainable addition to the wider £1bn Longbridge masterplan. In addition to the business park, the investment will see an attractive new residential neighbourhood of 350 homes created.
 
Andy Street, the Mayor of the West Midlands, said: “Having an industry-leading scientific company based at Longbridge represents another significant milestone in its ongoing regeneration. I hope this will be just one of many more exciting developments to come”  

Leading businesses such as Bytesnap and Mark3d are already based in Longbridge, and with IVC Evidensia well on its way to completion.