A 180,000 sq ft office and laboratory complex for Sci-Tech Daresbury, the Liverpool City region science and innovation campus, has secured planning consent. Tony McDonough reports
Sci-Tech Daresbury has secured planning consent for a multi-million pound 180,000 sq ft office and laboratory complex.
Halton Council, owners of the Liverpool city region science and innovation campus along with Langtree and the Science & Technology Facilities Council, has given the go-ahead for Ultraviolet for which there is already strong demand.
It will be located next to Project Violet, a £17.8m three-building speculative office development which itself is still under construction. This is set to open shortly with a number of firms already set to relocate to the new facilities.
The decision to pursue the further expansion of the science facilities available at Sci-Tech Daresbury at this early stage in response to the demand from businesses requiring office and laboratory space. Sci-Tech Daresbury says 30 tenants have moved to the campus in 2021 alone. It is now home to almost 150 businesses.
Last month, the new Daresbury Digital Tech Cluster – set to create 1,000 jobs – was officially launched on campus. John Downes, chief executive of Langtree and chairman of Sci-Tech Daresbury, said: “During 2021, we’ve seen strong demand.
“That demand has been driven not just by new arrivals to the site but also by our ‘home for life’ ethos that supports existing tenants scaling up and moving into larger premises on site as their ambitions broaden.
“Our development programme for Sci-Tech Daresbury is underpinned by our strong belief that in order to compete in global markets we must ensure that we have the right facilities and environment that supports the growth of science and technology focused businesses and inspires collaboration and innovation.
“The delivery of a further 180,000 sq ft of high-quality office and laboratory accommodation speaks volumes for our commitment to Sci-Tech Daresbury and our dedication to supporting innovative science and technology firms.
“Creating the right facilities for dynamic, cutting edge businesses in our region to thrive is not just critical for the health of the North West’s economy, but for the whole of the UK.”