A groundbreaking ceremony at Nottingham Science Park today (March 20) marked the official start on construction of a new building part-funded by the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership.
Nottingham City Council Leader Councillor Jon Collins is pictured (left) and D2N2 LEP Board Member and Chair of its Enterprise Zone Steering Group, David Williams, (right), with representatives from contractor Willmott Dixon (middle), officially marking the start of works today on ‘Building No.2’; at the Science Park off University Boulevard, opposite the University of Nottingham’s main campus.
The new building will provide 22,700 square feet of office space for businesses looking for research and development facilities near like-minded organisations, creating a more effective hub of commercial activity within the Science Park.
A café for Park businesses and public use and a conference space for up to 60 people to attend events, businesses events and symposiums will also be included.
The £10.6million building has received £4.9m from the D2N2 LEP’s Building Foundations for Growth allocation.
D2N2 is the private sector-led Partnership of business, local authorities, skills and training providers, and community and voluntary services organisations which works to promote economic growth across Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, Derby and Derbyshire.
Representatives from Nottingham City Council – which is leading on the Nottingham Science Park project – were joined at today’s groundbreaking ceremony by D2N2 Board Member and Chair of its Enterprise Zone Steering Group, David Williams; and those from contractors Willmott Dixon and property consultants Gleeds.
Councillor Collins, Nottingham City Council Leader, 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.”
Tom Goshawk, Capital Projects Manager for the D2N2 LEP, added: “Science and innovation are among the priority sectors for the D2N2 LEP area, so it is good to see work beginning on this new facility; to provide businesses at the Science Park with a focal point to create more opportunities to network and collaborate.”
Earlier this month (March 8) a new pedestrian and cycle footbridge was opened, spanning the Midland Main Line rail track, to better link Boots’ Beeston headquarters and the Nottingham Science Park, improving access between two main employment sites. This project was also part-funded by D2N2.
Further information on the Nottingham Science Park at website www.nottinghamsciencepark.com/
For more on how the D2N2 LEP is helping back major infrastructure projects across its area see its website at www.d2n2lep.org/Local-Growth-Fund
Media wanting more information about the D2N2 LEP can contact D2N2 Communications Manager Sean Kirby on 0115 9578749 or email: sean.kirby@d2n2lep.org
