Sci-Tech Daresbury’s Project Violet has secured an £8.4m funding boost which will lead to the creation of hundreds of jobs.
A £2.5m loan from the Urban Development Fund, together with £5.9m from the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority’s Chrysalis Fund, has backed the development at the Cheshire complex.
This will comprise of 42,000sq ft of speculative grade-A office and innovation space aimed at “forward thinking science and tech-focused businesses”.
Lead contractor Willmott Dixon has started work on the £17.8m project, which is expected to create or support 332 full-time jobs, and encompass two buildings of 12,000 sq ft and one of 18,000 sq ft. The project is set to complete by the end of 2021.
Steve Rotheram, Metro Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, announced that the funds had been approved on Tuesday, and said: “Our region is very lucky to have Sci-Tech Daresbury, home to some world-leading businesses and research organisations who are doing some incredible work in the fields of science, technology and industries of the future.
“We’ve invested £8.4m to help the site continue to grow and succeed, and to ensure that we’re able to offer the world class facilities to keep attracting new businesses and jobs to the area. This project alone is expected to create hundreds of local jobs.
“Retaining as many businesses, jobs and investment as possible, while attracting more will be really important in helping our region recover from the economic effects of this pandemic, but we’re already making a start.”
John Downes, CEO of Langtree and chairman of Sci-Tech Daresbury, said: “The groundbreaking ceremony and funding confirmation mark two important milestones for not just Project Violet but also the development of the wider campus.
“These new buildings are a pivotal addition to the site, and will allow us to provide a home for more innovative businesses of all different sizes, from dynamic start-ups to established global firms.
“We’re currently seeing strong demand for workspace from businesses developing products and services that will help the economy forward in years to come, and we’re therefore proud to continue to develop our site to cater to this requirement.
“We’re very appreciative of the Mayor and the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority for their support in helping us take the project forward.
“Willmott Dixon is undertaking its work in a conscientious and meticulous manner – both in terms of the stringent safety precautions on site and its approach to social value. We look forward to working closely with the team during the construction process on initiatives that will have a real benefit for local people in terms of skills and employment.”
