Land and Buildings

Loughborough Science Park

"Assessing the development of a further 50 hectares of Science Park in Loughborough"

The project will research how best to create an expanded Science Park by considering issues such as the number of companies developing, along with their rates of growth, to give an idea of what will happen in the future.

Organisation: Loughborough Innovation Centre Ltd

Completion Date: 31/03/2004

Location

Land close to Loughborough University, Loughborough, yet to be identified through the Local Development Framework

Project Description

EMDA, LSEP and local authorities are keen to increase the contribution that technology and knowledge-based businesses make to economic and social well-being by expanding Science Park provision. Companies will be attracted to the Science Park for the opportunities to collaborate with University Departments and we are pleased to support the work to explore the potential of this proposal - David Wallace, Vice-Chancellor, Loughborough University

Background
The first premises in Loughborough aimed at science-related businesses, Loughborough Technology Centre, were opened by Leicestershire County Council in 1984. In 1993, a consortium was formed comprising Loughborough University, Leicestershire County Council, Charnwood Borough Council and British Gas Research (SPRINT). Its brief was to assess the potential of R&D by local companies and the University for attracting UK and overseas companies onto the proposed nine-hectare Science Park.

Science Park development
The development of the Science Park began in 1995 with the completion of the first commercial building for a successful University spin-out company, Loughborough Sound Images. This was complemented by the opening of the British Gas Research Centre (subsequently Advantica) on land immediately to the west of Loughborough University.

In 2002, the Loughborough Innovation Centre was opened on a site in the middle of the University campus and was fully occupied within nine months, housing 27 innovative companies. In 2003, Loughborough University purchased the Gas Research Centre and its associated grounds from Advantica, with a view to its own development requirements, renaming the site Holywell Park. Loughborough Innovation Centre commenced development of its second phase in 2004.

Supporting the knowledge economy
As well as the creation of property, partners have also created two networks that support knowledge-based companies; LATI, a network of high-tech companies, University departments and business support agencies that has been running for more than seven years; and this was supplemented with the creation of Loughborough Enterprise Club, which supports early stage enterprises.

Thus, various partners have been contributing to the infrastructure for a knowledge-based sector of the local economy for 20 years. The Leicestershire Structure Plan requires that provision for a further 50 hectares be made for science park development on land well-related to Loughborough University.

Work is now underway on the Charnwood Local Development Framework which will be required to allocate that land. Loughborough University embarked at the beginning of 2004 on a project to assess its future development needs that will result in a 'Master Plan' for its campus.

Current situation
The current Loughborough Science Park project funded by LSEP will feed into the Local Development Framework; it focuses on the requirements of the additional Science Park and will scope that work as part of a Strategy for Innovation Property in Loughborough. The strategy will research how best to create an expanded Science Park by considering issues such as the number of companies developing, along with their rates of growth, to give an idea of what will happen in the future.

Outcomes

There are two projected document outcomes for the project, a Strategy for Innovation Property in Loughborough and a Scoping Study for the Science Park:

Strategy for Innovation Property
This strategy will build on work previously done by the SPRINT Consortium, developing a more sophisticated Research and Innovation Property Model, characterising the growing demand in terms of amount and type of floorspace.

Scoping Study for the Science Park
This study will scope the processes and activities that will need to be followed in order to implement a further 50 hectares of Science Park land in Loughborough.

Although these two documents are important milestones, the more significant outcome will be joint understanding amongst key stakeholders of the benefits of expanding the current Science Park and their eventual agreement to work to a joint vision. Such an understanding will lead to detailed feasibility and implementation work which is planned to continue at the end of the current phase of this project.

Project Contacts

Project manager:
Tim Bacon
Tel: 01509 223633
E-mail: t.bacon@lboro.ac.uk
Website: www.loughborough-innovation.com

LSEP contact:
Andy Rose
Tel: 0116 257 5677
Email: andyr@lsep.co.uk
Website: www.lsep.co.uk