New appointments to spearhead 130,000 sq ft biocentre
Woodbourne Group has announced additions to its senior management team, as it looks to drive forward its life science expansion plans.
Located within an eight minute walk of the new HS2 Curzon Street Station, the waterside development will feature Birmingham’s tallest building, is expected to boost Birmingham’s economy by £151m and generate 1,400 jobs.
A key part of plans is a 130,000 sq ft biocentre, which hopes to set the standard for life science provision in the city and across the region. Construction work is expected to start on site in early 2025.
Joining Woodbourne Group is Tes Adamou, head of life sciences, and David Lupson as non-executive. Ian Lynch has also joined as construction director.
Tani Dulay, chief executive of Woodbourne Group said: “We’ve assembled a first-class team to deliver on our promise of Curzon Wharf. We now also have the international standard of expertise of the life science market which will enable us to deliver on our plans to be the class leader in the sector.”
David Lupson is one of the UK’s leading practitioners in the development and operation of life science laboratories. He engineered the UK’s inaugural commercial leased laboratory and contributed significantly to birthing Europe’s largest commercial life science cluster during his tenure.
He has been instrumental in the successful business planning, delivery and leasing of more than 2.5m sq ft of commercial laboratory space including Cambridge Science Park, Newcastle Biosphere, Liverpool Science Park, Thames Valley Science Park and Edinburgh BioQuarter. Lupsons clients include GlaxoSmithKline, various city and county councils, Greater London Authority, the NHS, the Queensland government, Scottish government and a number of leading UK universities.
Tes Adamou has significant experience in project and programme management in the construction and property sectors, having led a multitude of projects in the life sciences and education spheres. He has played a pivotal role in the successful planning, delivery and leasing of £400m life science schemes, as well as steering R&D campuses to GMP manufacturing facilities and higher education in the UK.
Adamou is the CEO of EEDN, a design and project management consultancy catering to the built environment, with a specialism in technically intricate life science projects. While maintaining his current position, his appointment ensures that Woodbourne Group secures exclusivity over the West Midlands region.
Ian Lynch, the former development project manager at Lendlease where he worked on the Smithfield masterplan, has also joined Woodbourne Group. He has been appointed construction director with a special focus on delivering Curzon Wharf and major projects. Lynch has led the planning, procurement, and execution of diverse mixed-use construction projects, cumulatively valued at more than £750m, encompassing residential, education, commercial, retail and leisure sectors.
Plans were approved in April 2023 for Curzon Wharf, which will feature a 53-storey tower (172m, 564 ft) with 498 units of built-to-rent accommodation, a 41-storey tower with up to 732 units of purpose-built student accommodation and a 14-storey development with up to 122 units of residential space.
It will include nearly 130,000 sq ft of office, R&D and life science space, over 3,000 sq ft of retail space, 15,000 sq ft of leisure space, more than 76,424 sq ft of new and improved public realm and 490m of walking and cycling routes.
Birmingham City Council and Woodbourne Group signed a Section 106 agreement this week on £2.49m of public realm works, a canal improvement sum of £20k and affordable housing provision.
