Work on Phase Two of the Lincoln Science & Innovation Park is set to begin later this year, with work on the first planning application now underway.
Since it opened, Lincoln Science & Innovation Park has created 12,000m2 of renovated and purpose-built space that is home to a science and tech community.
Phase Two of the park’s development aims to continue this success by creating an environment to engage larger and expanding businesses.
Phase Two will offer bespoke developments for sole-occupancy to medium and large knowledge-intensive businesses.
Buildings will range in size from 5,000 to 27,000 sq ft (500m2 to 2,500m2) over six landscaped acres of the current park, with access to its facilities and services. The land has outline planning consent for 12,000m2 of new development, however individual applications will be submitted.
Tom Blount, Director at Lincoln Science & Innovation Park told CityX: “We’re intending to put in full planning consent on a building by building basis rather than for the whole site.
“This is because we’re expecting each of the buildings to be quite bespoke to the individual needs of the occupier, as you would expect in technology-focused applications.
“At the moment, we’re working towards the first planning application, for grow-on space, to be submitted in the early summer with architects and engineers undertaking design work as we speak.
“Assuming everything goes to plan, the first tenants should be moving in during the first half of next year for our first speculative building.
“However, it takes us about 18-months from the start of a new building design project to completion, so the design and build projects we’re starting to work on will be a bit later than that
“We were expecting the Boole Technology Centre to be full at some point in 2020/21 but we are currently at 75% occupancy with leases issued for a further 15% and the remainder under Heads of Terms negotiations so it looks like we’ll be full at the end of May this year.
“Demand from hi-tech and research-intensive firms has been much greater than we expected.
“These firms aren’t standing still either. Tenants of Boole have raised more than £5 million of new money from private investors, grants and loans in the last year and that is reflected in their expansion.
“Consequently, we think we’re going to be developing four types of building on Phase Two. In the first instance, we need grow-on space for businesses outgrowing Boole Technology Centre, Think Tank and incubation space elsewhere in the city.
“Pretty soon, these firms will require their own, stand-alone buildings and those will be next on our agenda.
“Lastly, we’re expecting to put up several larger buildings for more substantial businesses. Altogether, we’re expecting Phase Two to cover about 12,000m2 across six-acres and it will take us 8-10 years to build out.
“Phase Two tenants will enjoy the advantages of being part of the science park, while having their own stand-alone buildings. They will be part of our thriving science and tech community and a successful, collaborative Science Park.
“They will be on site with University of Lincoln researchers and technicians with access to students and graduates for internships and employment. They can tap in to the facilities and academic expertise at Joseph Banks Laboratories and the business networks and facilities at Boole.
“There’s also dedicated parking, 24/7 security and it’s handy as it’s close to city centre amenities and Lincoln’s Transport Hub.”
Source: CityX