Liverpool city region science and innovation campus Sci-Tech Daresbury secures planning consent for £24m 83,000 sq ft development. Tony McDonough reports

Sci-Tech Daresbury has secured planning consent for Violet phase two which will deliver a further 83,000 sq ft of office and laboratory space.

Costing £24m, Violet phase two will offer two new three-storey buildings, known as V4 and V5. This follows on from the successful delivery of Violet phase one, which offers 43,000 sq ft of commercial space across three buildings – V1, V2 and V3. Last December it was reported it had fill up fast and it is now 85% occupied.

This latest speculative development will see 23,000 sq ft of grade A office space created in V4. There will be a further 60,000 sq ft of laboratory space built in V5.

Sci-Tech Daresbury, a joint-venture between Langtree, the Science and Technology Facilities Council and Halton Council, says the laboratory space is “much needed” in the city region.

It is now in the process of securing a contractor with the aim of starting work on the project in the second quarter of 2024. This second phase of Violet is expected to help create or support 300 jobs to add to the 2,000 jobs already on campus.

Langtree chief executive John Downes said: “We’re thrilled to have secured approval to proceed with the latest landmark development on our campus. We have already commenced the process to secure a high-quality contractor.

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“Sci-Tech Daresbury is designed to be a ‘home for life’ and we’re committed to creating the right environment needed for world-leading innovative firms to achieve their ambitions.

“Right now, that means building laboratory and office facilities with larger floorplates to accommodate both companies scaling up from within the campus and other science and technology companies who have chosen to join our vibrant community.”