The most technologically advanced building in the West Country has opened at Plymouth Science Park.
One Research Way is the fifth phase of the park’s development and was made possible by a grant from the Heart of the South West LEP Growth Fund and additional funding from the University of Plymouth and Plymouth City Council.
The building is the flagship of the park and its first tenants are relocations who will provide 200 jobs between them.
The multi-million pound iconic gateway project stands at the entrance to the park and is already 60 per cent let with the matching learning company iotec Global and London based e-learning company The Key Support Solutions, occupying the top floors. The park expects the building to be 100 per cent occupied by the summer.
A dramatic and exciting building, One Research Way is spread over three floors and offers 11 units and is a clear statement of the park’s dominant position as the region’s centre for science and technology businesses.
As the centre in the South West for the growing Science and Technology sectors, Plymouth Science Park has planned its newest building to lead the way in innovation and design.
Director of Operations, Christian Jenkins, said:
“This is a fantastic building in all respects and any aspirational business should want to be part of this dynamic and exciting community. The success of One Research Way has given us the confidence to start planning Phase 6 and it is yet another mark of confidence in the growth and sustainability of Plymouth as the region’s economic heart.”
Along with unobstructed south-facing views, the glass and steel building makes clever use of natural light and features meeting spaces extruding from the structure in striking breakout pods, designed to encourage collaborative opportunities and inspire creativity.
Chair of the Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership, Steve Hindley, said:
“Phase 5 of Plymouth Science Park, now named One Research Way, is one of the LEP’s Growth Deal funded projects that are selected for their strategic importance to generating growth in productivity throughout the Heart of the South West, which covers Devon, Plymouth, Somerset and Torbay. This new centre ticks the boxes as an ideal Growth Deal funded project. Not only does it provide state of the art facilities for one of our key sectors for growth: Science and Innovation, it’s attracting companies to relocate from other parts of the country, bringing high value jobs to the area and building on the Heart of the South West’s profile as a leading business destination.”
The University’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Judith Petts, CBE, said:
“The opening of One Research Way marks an important milestone in the positive trajectory of Plymouth Science Park, and for the city and region as it focuses on attracting and supporting high-growth, highly-skilled, technology-focused businesses. For the University, this is welcome progress, creating additional opportunities for the University to bring about economic impact through the ongoing application of its research and the influence of its undergraduate and postgraduate students, as well as helping to attract its graduates to remain within the region.”
Leader of Plymouth City Council Ian Bowyer, said:
“This is fantastic news for Plymouth and shows the calibre of companies that are looking to come here. We are determined to continue to invest in opportunities like the science park to ensure we are creating high quality jobs here. It’s by creating opportunities like One Research Way we are able to ensure the city is seen as somewhere companies like iotec Global and The Key Support Solutions want to base their businesses.”
The building was designed by HLM Architects and built by BAM construction. Graham Kingdon, Construction Director of BAM Construction Ltd, said:
“BAM are delighted to have designed and built, with the help of our local consultants HLM, Hydrock and Hulley & Kirkwood, and our local supply chain, another landmark building in Plymouth, on time, on budget and to an extremely high standard. The team ethos throughout the project is a testament to all involved and we look forward to delivering many more schemes in the city. Alongside the completion of a fantastic building the successful delivery of the employment skills plan which supports the PCC “Building Plymouth” initiative is another notable achievement for the BAM team and one of which we are extremely proud.”
Plymouth Science Park is the biggest Science Park in the South West of England and hosts 150 businesses and 1000 staff and employees. Originally named Tamar Science Park it was incorporated in 1995 as a joint venture between Plymouth University and Plymouth City Council. The 25-acre campus is home to innovative technology, digital, creative, marine and science-based businesses from one person start-ups to multi-national corporations and has a total of 180,000 sq ft of space, with offices varying in size.
