How Wilton Centre development will have a positive impact on planet
FEATURE
VISION – how the Wilton Freeport development will look, with the existing Wilton Centre in the background. CGI supplied by Logic Architecture.
GROWING GREEN
How Wilton Centre development will have a positive impact on planet
The operator of the Wilton Centre says the go-ahead for a major development on land there will ultimately lead to a positive impact on the health of our planet.
Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council has approved a planning application for nearly 150,000 sq. ft of new technical / manufacturing space, laboratories and offices at the site near Redcar.
The buildings will be inside the boundary of the Teesside Freeport so their occupiers will benefit from a range of incentives, including savings on Stamp Duty, Business Rates and National Insurance contributions.
The Wilton Centre is operated by a leading developer of life science ecosystems, Pioneer Group, which integrates R & D infrastructure, venture investment and support across its 12 sites in the UK and Ireland.
It believes its significant investment in the Wilton Freeport Development will create several hundred new jobs and bring about wider benefits.
Executive director Toby Reid says:“ Companies at the Wilton Centre are tackling a range of issues, from difficult-torecycle materials to removing fossil fuels from manufacturing processes. The new development will allow more companies like these to get started and scale their processes in purpose built facilities, creating jobs and ultimately positively impacting the health of our planet.”
Wilton Centre Site Director Steve Duffield said:“ This is great news for Teesside, the Centre and the scientists, researchers and support staff who will
Environmental impact- Pioneer Group executive director Toby Reid says the new development will create more opportunities for firms focused on sustainability.
hopefully be working here in the not too distant future.
“ The Wilton Centre is celebrating its 50th birthday this year and while we’ re looking back at the great times here we’ re also looking forward to a very exciting future as these plans become reality.”
The Centre accommodates 60 businesses, with an increasing number engaged in bio-manufacturing, biopharmaceuticals and the circular economy. It is also home to the Centre for Process Innovation( CPI), the High Value Manufacturing Catapult. The new high quality facilities are expected to attract like-minded companies, both start-ups and established businesses.
There will be 16 units providing technical development space, a twostorey incubator building containing 14 fully-equipped laboratories as well as five offices. The size of the labs range from 300 sq. ft to 1,000 sq. ft to meet the needs of both small and new businesses. People working there will have access to the main building where there is a restaurant, Wellbeing Centre, lecture theatre and space for events.
The go ahead for the Wilton Freeport Development came shortly after the publication of a study by the CPI and Square One Law which warned that a lack of laboratory space in the North-East“ hinders the development and expansion of the region’ s science and technology sectors”. The report concluded that addressing this shortage was“ crucial for fostering a thriving environment for research and development.”
The Wilton Centre is already trying to tackle this problem by making available 6,000 sq. ft of laboratory space with 2,000 sq. ft of office accommodation alongside.
In addition, already this year EFAB Industrial Solutions has moved into the Centre; NEPIC and Seloxium have taken additional space and Renew ELP and Universal Matter have extended their leases.
For more information contact: Claire Morton- c. morton @ wiltoncentre. com Richard Wilson – r. wilson @ doddsbrown. co. uk Chris Hartnell – Chris. Hartnell @ carterjonas. co. uk
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