07 October 2011

Vanguard House receives Royal launch

Vanguard House, a new £8.5m office and laboratory development at Daresbury Science and Innovation Campus, (Daresbury SIC), has been officially opened by HRH The Duke of York.

His Royal Highness, the Royal Patron of the campus, unveiled the building, which is designed to provide complementary grow-on space for the circa 100 science and technology businesses at Daresbury Innovation Centre, while also attracting new global high-tech firms to the Cheshire site.

The building, which lies within the newly-approved SCI-TECH Enterprise Zone, was originally funded and built by Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA), will be managed by the Daresbury SIC private-public sector joint venture, which comprises Langtree, the Science and Technology Facilities Council, and Halton Borough Council.

During his address, the Duke highlighted the unique value of the Campus, where young high-tech companies can locate, nurture and grow their businesses amongst globally-leading science facilities, and how their success would attract yet more, pioneering businesses from across the country to come to Daresbury to develop and grow their own ideas.

Vanguard House becomes the third building in the Daresbury SIC joint venture portfolio, joining the Cockcroft Institute and the Daresbury Innovation Centre. Wrapped in aluminium cladding that adapts its colour depending on daylight levels, the highly innovative building provides 36,000 sq ft of office and laboratory space, with units ranging from 1,010 to 2,486 sq ft.

The three-storey building has an excellent BREEAM rating and its high sustainability agenda is reflected in a number of environmental features including a ground source heat pump to reduce energy consumption.

John Downes, chairman of Daresbury SIC and managing director at joint venture partner Langtree, said: "We have developed Vanguard House to help expand our ability to attract the most innovative, cutting edge science and technology businesses and it was great to have Prince Andrew here supporting our efforts.

"The building has already secured three new high-growth tenants from sectors as diverse as energy and biotechnology, demonstrating our reputation within the knowledge economy for providing a platform to extend businesses' networks and opening doors to collaboration and investment opportunities."

Cllr Rob Polhill, Leader of Halton Borough Council, said: "The recent completion of Vanguard House is another major step forward in the ongoing development of the campus, and one which will have major benefits on a national and international level. We are delighted that the Duke has made a return visit to recognise and support the significance of the work carried out here."

Professor Keith Mason, Chief Executive of STFC said: "The very encouraging demand for space in Vanguard House is a clear indicator of the exceptional attractions of the campus to high tech businesses and also the growth of the smaller cutting-edge companies already located here.

"By enabling researchers and businesses to collaborate closely and hence build highly innovative, successful companies, the campus is not only boosting the UK economy, but is also dramatically increasing the impact of science and technology for people in the UK.

"This has been an exciting year for Daresbury, with the opening of Vanguard House, the confirmation of Daresbury's Enterprise Zone status and also the government's recent announcements of yet further very significant financial support and investment to maintain the world class science capabilities at this campus. The Duke of York is a very strong ambassador for UK industry and I am thrilled that he has decided to pay a return visit to Daresbury today to officially open Vanguard House."

Vanguard House promises to deliver new specialist office and laboratory space alongside significant infrastructure improvements, potentially creating as many as 10,000 skilled jobs and leveraging more than £150m in private sector investment.

Science and technology businesses that start up or relocate to the SCI-TECH Enterprise Zone will qualify for a 100 per cent business rate discount for five years, up to a maximum of £275,000 over five years.