Next phase of Sci-Tech Daresbury approved

Halton Council has given planning consent to the next phase of Sci-Tech Daresbury, which includes 42,000 sq ft of speculative office space.

The expansion of the science and technology campus, designed by Seven Architecture, includes two buildings of 12,000 sq ft each and one of 18,000 sq ft. Each building will provide floor plates of between 3,500 sq ft to 6,000 sq ft, and will be situated as gateway buildings to the campus on Innovation Way.

Work on the £12m project is planned to start later in the year, and the build programme is expected to take 12 months.

Sci-Tech Daresbury was established in 2006 and was granted Enterprise Zone status in 2012. Businesses already based at the science park include the STFC’s Daresbury Laboratory, and IBM.

It is backed by a public-private joint venture partnership between Langtree, the Science and Technology Facilities Council, and Halton Council.

In 2017, the three-storey 46,000 sq ft office and laboratory development Techspace One completed at the site.

Neal Biddle, group development director of Langtree, said: “Project Violet will deliver much needed grade A office space in the region and underlines our commitment to building on Sci-Tech Daresbury’s reputation as a place where ambitious businesses can achieve success.

“Last year another 30 businesses relocated to the campus and with increasing demand on space, it is critical that we continue to invest in the campus’s infrastructure to help support the economic health of the North West’s economy and that of UK Plc to better compete in global markets.

“Our project partners share this vision and we believe these physical developments will help address a shortfall of space in the region and support the expansion of the wide range of businesses based on technology and innovation already thriving at Sci-Tech Daresbury.”

• Hear from speakers including Sci-Tech Daresbury’s business development manager John Leake at Place North West’s upcoming event, Science & Technology: Developing the region’s world class offer, which takes place on 22 February. Click here to register