Sci-Tech Daresbury submits planning application for next phase of development in response to robust pipeline of potential new tenants

Sci-Tech Daresbury has further placed itself at the forefront of the UK’s flourishing science and technology sector by announcing their latest development, Project Ultraviolet, with an outline planning application having been submitted to Halton Borough Council. Project Ultraviolet will form the latest development within the Liverpool City Region-based campus.

Project Ultraviolet could comprise up to five buildings of Grade A office and lab space; up to 180,000 sq ft, and would be located next to Project Violet, a £17.8m three-building office development currently under construction and due for completion at the end of this year.

The plans to further expand and enhance the world-class science facilities available at Sci-Tech Daresbury reflects the steady demand from cutting edge businesses for high quality office and laboratory space. 28 new tenants joined the campus during 2020, while discussions are currently underway with numerous firms who are set to locate at the 42,000 sq ft Project Violet.

The success of the campus in recent years has been underpinned by its cluster approach, which sees likeminded businesses in sectors such as digital, advanced engineering and healthtech share knowledge and resources, resulting in enhanced productivity and innovation.

John Downes, Chief Executive Officer of Langtree and Chairman of Sci-Tech Daresbury, said: “The strong demand in the market has given us the confidence to proceed with the first steps of the next phase of development within the campus, by submitting the outline application for Project Ultraviolet. For us, that demand is driven not just by new arrivals to the site - whether that’s a dynamic SME or global firms looking for a UK base – but also by our ‘home for life’ ethos that sees existing tenants scaling up and requiring larger premises in order to meet their growth ambitions.

“It’s been tremendous to see how our collaborative and dynamic business community has adapted and flourished over the past year, many of them developing products and services that have proven vitally important during the COVID-19 pandemic not only in the UK but also globally. Our ambitious plans for Project Ultraviolet reflect our confidence that such companies will become even more important in the years ahead and will play a key role in driving forward the UK’s economic recovery through job creation and attracting international investment.

“We see it as our responsibility to create the necessary infrastructure for both UK and global firms at the cutting edge of science and technology to realise their potential, and we look forward to working with local stakeholders to bring this exciting development forward.”