THE Northwest Development Agency (NWDA) is to spend up to £9m funding new space at Daresbury Science & Innovation Campus, after the previous developer pulled out.
St Modwen was originally going to build Vanguard House, comprising more than 35,000 sq ft, but was forced to pull out due to the credit crunch.
Now the NWDA has stepped in to revive the project, which it is believed will cost between £7m and £9m.
The agency is now seeking a contractor and hopes to begin in January next year.
The new development will be adjacent to the existing Daresbury Innovation Centre, the Cockcroft Institute (the National Centre for Accelerator Science) and the STFC Daresbury Laboratory.
Steven Broomhead, chief executive of the NWDA, said: “This is a crucial next stage in the development of Daresbury SIC.
“The investment by the NWDA in the campus has proved to be a great success, with over 90 companies now on site and high demand for this next stage of development.
“The partnership with STFC (Science and Technology Facilities Council), Halton Council and the Universities of Liverpool, Manchester and Lancaster has proven very attractive to companies.”
The funding for the new building will take the NWDA investment on the Daresbury Science and Innovation Campus to more than £67m.
The new building will provide almost 36,000 sq ft of accommodation, with a range of office, workshop and laboratory space in units from 1,000 sq ft upwards.
Daresbury is recognised by the Government as one of only two national Science and Innovation Campuses.
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