New Enterprise Zone Development to Deliver 350 Jobs

The UK’s leading science and innovation campus, Sci-Tech Daresbury, has entered its next phase of development with the start of work on two new buildings which will deliver up to 350 new jobs.

The two buildings will be named Techspace One and Techspace Two and will together provide 56,000 sq ft of speculative Grade A office and laboratory space at the Sci-Tech Daresbury Enterprise Zone.

Work on the developments is expected to be completed by summer 2016.

Techspace One is a three-storey 46,000 sq ft building consisting of Grade A office space along with wet and dry laboratory facilities, each on its own separate floor.

It is expected to attract companies from sectors such as biomedical, material science and clean technology.

The building includes high-speed internet connectivity throughout and will provide accommodation of between 900 sq ft and 2,400 sq ft along with high-quality communal areas and meeting rooms.

The ground and first floors of Techspace One will be home to 16 separate laboratory units of between 900 sq ft and 2,000 sq ft. The first floor laboratories will be capable of being fitted out to Class 2 containment.

The second floor will be home to nine high-quality Grade A office suites ranging between 900 sq ft and 2,400 sq ft. Support packages to assist with internal fit-out are available for both the laboratories and the office space.

Techspace Two is a two-storey self-contained Grade A office building providing 10,000 sq ft of space which could be divided into a maximum of four individual suites.

It will provide companies from sectors such as digital/ ICT, advanced engineering and clean technology with their own ‘front door’ at Sci-Tech Daresbury.

The Enterprise Zone status of both buildings means that tenants will be eligible to benefit from five years’ relief on local authority business rates.

Sci-Tech Daresbury is private-public joint-venture partnership between the newly formed developer Langtree Property Partners, the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) and Halton Borough Council.

John Downes, Chief Executive of Langtree Property Partners, said:

“The start of work on Techspace One and Techspace Two marks a significant milestone in the future growth of Sci-Tech Daresbury. It will further strengthen our status as a location of choice for businesses wishing to benefit from a unique combination of office, research and science facilities as they bring new innovations to market."

“Through our ‘Home for Life’ philosophy, we are committed to delivering a site that can provide a range of office and laboratory facilities to support the growth of high-tech companies. Techspace One and Two is the next stage in this journey.”

Professor John Womersley, Chief Executive of the Science and Technology Facilities Council, added:

“This latest development is a reflection of the growing success of Sci-Tech Daresbury and the value it offers to science and technology-based businesses wishing to take advantage of the world-leading science facilities which the site offers.”

Cllr Ron Hignett, Halton Borough Council’s portfolio holder for Physical Environment, says:

“Sci-Tech Daresbury is a vital asset for Halton, the North West and the UK. We have been working hard with our joint venture partners to move it to another level and this development will help Sci-Tech Daresbury to cement its place as the premier science and innovation campus in the UK."

“The new facilities will offer businesses unrivalled opportunities to collaborate with like-minded companies, to access professional and scientific expertise and to identify valuable partnership opportunities.”

Techspace One has been supported with a grant from the UK Government’s Regional Growth Fund while Techspace Two is supported with a grant from the European Regional Development Fund.

The latest development builds on the successes of Sci-Tech Daresbury, including Vanguard House and The Innovation Centre, which provide accommodation for over 100 high-tech companies.

Galliford Try started on site this week and is expected to complete construction works by summer 2016.