The proposal will increase the Science and Innovation Park by around 330%.to provide specialist workspace, lab space and R & D facilities, open-innovation hub, indoor and outdoor social and meeting spaces, walkable routes and an on-site hotel.
Details
The Keele Science Park is already home to around 60 businesses, 1000 staff, both local and global companies and 400 researchers working on everything from novel biomaterials to cancer diagnostics. It currently has 95% occupancy, with pipeline interest for 20 acres.
The Draft Local Plan has proposals for a new 32 acre employment site alongside
the existing Science & Innovation Park which would:
• Create 950,000 sqft of floorspace with potential to create 5,400 on site jobs
by 2045
• Accommodate the larger footprints needed to grow the area’s innovation base
• Sit within a wider investment zone with new neighbourhoods clustered around
the University
• Nestle in high quality Country Park environments
• Offer enhanced sustainable and active travel options
The vision is to build a thriving interconnected community of innovators, researchers, learners and educators, bringing opportunities for all communities where learning and innovation crosses boundaries and where both thinkers
and doers can thrive.
This would be a place where the outdoors provides breathing space, walking
routes and social spaces in a beautiful biodiverse environment, alongside facilities for larger scale R&D and manufacturing, state of the art facilities for science-based and knowledge-led businesses, a digital infrastructure fit for future, shared spaces for collaborative R&D and indoor and outdoor social spaces.