WORK has officially got underway on the expansion of Nottingham Science Park this month (March) as contractor Willmott Dixon began the build of Building No. 2.
The new building will provide 22,700 sq ft of Grade A office space for businesses looking for research and development facilities near like-minded organisations. Support to develop the new building has been funded by the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP).
The project, which was procured via Major Works England and Northern Ireland, a part of the Scape National Construction framework, is also benefitting the wider Nottinghamshire community by ensuring all of its supply chain will come from businesses within a 20-mile radius of the site.
Stuart Kerr, operations director for Willmott Dixon in the East Midlands said: “This is a hugely important scheme for Nottingham and Nottingham City Council, so we are proud to be part of its creation. Nottingham Science Park 2 will make such a difference to the local economy by creating 200 highly skilled new jobs upon completion, however, as with all of our projects we want to support the local community by creating employment opportunities throughout the construction period too.”
Willmott Dixon is working together with Perfect Circle, a consortium comprising of Pick Everard, Gleeds and AECOM, via The Scape Built Environment Consultancy Services framework.
The building - which has been designed by CPMG Architects – has been designed to complement the existing buildings on site and is the first phase of a series of new developments on the site in the coming years.
Councillor Jon Collins, leader of the City Council, said: “The expansion of the Science Park is important to Nottingham: as a Science City, we recognise the way scientific research and manufacture can create jobs, stimulate growth and create great local companies the city can be proud of.
“Nottingham has a proud history of manufacturing, and of scientific discovery through Boots, the discovery of ibuprofen and the creation of the MRI machine. We want to create many more opportunities for discoveries, cutting edge technology or new breakthroughs, and investing in a new hi-tech building is a crucial step in that.
“Being close to both the University of Nottingham and the Boots Enterprise Zone only enhances the opportunities the Science Park can foster. By investing in an innovative sector of the city and national industry, we can all benefit from this in the future as firms expand and invest more into themselves and into Nottingham.”
Mark Robinson, Scape Group chief executive said: “The new business hub will be a great addition to the extension to the Nottingham Science Park 2, not only for the scientific community but also for the local economic contribution that SME’s will make by working on this project. With Nottingham being our heartland, I am delighted that this exciting project will further enhance Nottingham’s position at the forefront of scientific innovation.
“The business hub serves as a magnet in attracting further investment to Nottingham whilst generating a halo effect for the local community by creating a myriad of local employment opportunities.”