Construction of a major new facility for high-tech businesses, Vanguard House, began officially this week on the Daresbury Science and Innovation Campus (Daresbury SIC).
Steven Broomhead, Chief Executive of the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) which is funding the project, officially broke the soil on the site of the building, which will provide 3,300 sq m (36,000 sq ft) of accommodation and heralds the next stage of development of the internationally recognised Campus.
It follows on from the hugely successful Daresbury Innovation Centre and is set for completion in the first quarter of 2011.
Mr Broomhead was accompanied by representatives of two of the Campus’ stakeholders: George Baxter, Director of Science and Innovation at the NWDA and Dr Richard Blake, Director of the Computational Science and Engineering Group at the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC).
Joining them was Dave Northey, Contracts Manager for the main contractor VINCI Construction UK, along with Clive Marshall, Managing Director of Link Information Technology and David Lovett, Managing Director of Perceptive Engineering, both currently located on the Campus and keen to explore the benefits of the new building.
Professor Colin Whitehouse, Deputy Chief Executive of STFC, said: “This is a very significant day and a clear indicator of the continued success of the Daresbury SIC model in providing access for businesses to world-class science, technology and computational expertise at STFC Daresbury Laboratory."
Vanguard House will provide office, laboratory and workshop space in units between 94 sq m – 231 sq m (1,000 sq ft – 2,450 sq ft) providing the logical next step for the rapidly growing companies already on the Campus, whilst attracting high-tech businesses from across the region and beyond. It takes the NWDA’s total investment in the Campus to over £67m.
As well as offering high quality office, laboratory, workshop, meeting room and reception facilities, the building will provide access to the wider Campus and its R&D, conference, leisure and catering facilities and will place Campus companies at the heart of Daresbury SIC’s expanding high-tech network.
Summer Fun... life's a beach at St Helens
(Fri 30/07)
Hit musician Paul Young heads for Crosby
(Thu 29/07)
Police 'Upbeat' about youth music
(Tue 27/07)
Post a comment