Offices proposed at Sci-Tech Daresbury

Developer Langtree and its partners have submitted a planning application for a £12m speculative office development at the Sci-Tech science and technology campus in Daresbury.

The proposed scheme is backed by the Science & Technology Facilities Council and Halton Council, and will cost around £12m. It has also been supported by retained business rates from the area’s Enterprise Zone, as well as funding from the science park’s partners.

Designed by Seven Architecture, the development is made up of two buildings of 18,000 sq ft and 12,000 sq ft, providing grade A office space over three storeys. Both will be situated as gateway buildings to the campus on Innovation Way.

Subject to planning approval, the project could start on site in summer 2018 and complete 12 months later. It is understood that a main contractor is yet to be appointed and the project is likely to go out to tender in the New Year.

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.

Earlier this year, the three-storey 46,000 sq ft office and laboratory development Techspace One completed at the site.

Neal Biddle, group development director of Langtree and board member of the Sci-Tech Daresbury joint venture company, said: “The fact we are committed to further speculative development by delivering much needed grade A office space in the region underlines not only our on-going success, but also our commitment to the region and the market demand for what we are proposing.

“There is a critical need to invest in Sci-Tech Daresbury infrastructure for economic development and to help the UK to be able to compete in global markets, an understanding and a vision shared by all our partners.”