10 July 2008
Planning Permission granted for major new facility for hi-tech
firms on Daresbury Science & Innovation Campus
Halton Borough Council has granted planning permission for a
major new facility for hi-tech businesses and leading-edge science
on the Daresbury Science & Innovation Campus, the first step in
the crucial next stage of the development of the Campus.
Construction of the new building, to be called Vanguard House, is
expected to begin in September 2008, with the building ready for
occupation in September 2009.
Vanguard House will provide 35,000 sq. ft. of office and
laboratory space in units of between 1,000 sq ft (93 sq m) and
7,700 sq ft (715 sq m). It will complement the hugely
successful Daresbury Innovation Centre and provide a home for
companies already on the Campus to grow into as well as attracting
established scientific and hi-tech companies from across the
country.
The agreement to build Vanguard House was announced at the
beginning of April by the Minister for Science & Innovation,
Ian Pearson, as part of a £25 million deal between The Northwest
Regional Development Agency, Daresbury Science & Innovation
Campus and St Modwen, widely regarded as the UK’s leading
regeneration specialist. Directly managed by St Modwen,
it will offer reception, meeting and conference facilities for all
companies on the Campus and a hi-tech IT service to its
occupiers.
The new development adjoins the existing Daresbury Innovation
Centre and the Cockcroft Institute (the National Centre for
Accelerator Science), with the larger investment creating the
potential for up to 200,000 sq ft (18.500 sq m) of new
accommodation and up to 1,200 jobs. St Modwen plan a rolling
programme of development of high quality buildings provided
speculatively or to meet occupiers’ bespoke requirements.
At a recent launch event for the facility, stunning architects’
visuals of the new building were unveiled. The event was a chance
for more than 60 prospective tenants, partners and agents to see
for themselves what this leading-edge facility will offer.
John Leake, General Manager of Daresbury SIC comments: ‘The
first step in the ambitious masterplan for the Campus is Vanguard
House and receiving planning permission is a very exciting
development. This will be a fantastic facility for hi-tech
businesses, but the attraction is not just about the bricks and
mortar, companies will be able to draw on the unique combination of
business support and world class scientific expertise that has
become the Daresbury SIC trademark’. Mr Leake has also
announced that the Daresbury site is to become one of six regional
Media Enterprise Centres, alongside the likes of Media City and
Liverpool, which will see it benefiting from the very latest
broadband connectivity for businesses in the digital and creative
sector.
Professor Colin Whitehouse, Director of Campus Strategy for the
Science & Technology Facilities Council, which runs Daresbury
Laboratory on the Campus, said, ‘Vanguard House signals a very
important and exciting next phase of growth for the Campus.
It indicates very clearly that the Daresbury SIC model of giving
business the opportunity to benefit from the close proximity of the
international-class science, technology and computing expertise of
Daresbury Laboratory is proving to be very successful.’
Also at the launch event, the architects, Stephen George &
Partners presented the computer-generated images of the building
and were joined by representatives from St Modwen who outlined the
facilities available to companies looking to take up
residence.
Steven Knowles, Senior Development Manager at St Modwen, adds:
‘Vanguard House signals our intent to provide high quality
accommodation to internationally competitive businesses. We
are delighted to have planning permission for this new
development.’
Among those present at the launch was the Leader of Halton
Borough Council, Cllr Tony McDermott, who added: ‘It was an
excellent event, and Vanguard House is an impressive development
which is another great step forward for the Daresbury facility and
demonstrates just what a special place Daresbury is.’
ENDS
For further information please contact:
Mark Blackburn
Marketing Manager
Daresbury Science & Innovation Campus
Keckwick Lane, Daresbury, Cheshire, WA4 4FS
Tel +44 (0)1925 607012
Fax +44 (0)1925 607398
Mob +44 (0)7947 315757
Email mark.blackburn_dsic@nwda.co.uk
Web www.daresburysic.co.uk
Notes to editors:
Daresbury Science & Innovation Campus (Daresbury SIC) is an
internationally recognised location for hi-tech businesses and
leading-edge science. It represents a fundamentally new
approach to driving UK competitiveness in global science and
innovation. Daresbury SIC was formed by the Northwest
Regional Development Agency and the Science & Technology
Facilities Council along with the Universities of Liverpool,
Lancaster and Manchester and Halton Borough Council.
St. Modwen is regarded as the UK’s leading regeneration
specialist operating through a network of regional offices in all
sectors of the property industry. St Modwen works in
partnership with private and public sector organisations, and
fosters the growth of new and expanding businesses by providing
accommodation and services to support their business needs.
The Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) leads the
economic development and regeneration of England's Northwest and is
responsible for:
• Supporting business growth and encouraging investment
• Matching skills provision to employer needs
• Creating the conditions for economic growth
• Connecting the region through effective transport and
communication infrastructure
• Promoting the region’s outstanding quality of life