Technology rich companies will benefit from an additional £4 million investment into Malvern Hills Science Park as planning consent for the next phase has been approved.
Last month (22 March 2016) Worcestershire County Council’s Planning Committee granted planning approval for development of Phase 5 of the Science Park which will partly replace an existing building that is being demolished with a new two storey building.
Development of Phase 5 is possible due to a £4m investment from the Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership through the Worcestershire Growth Deal. This investment builds on the success of the Science Park, which is already home to a significant cluster of IT and cyber security companies as well as the National Cyber Skills Centre.
The recently completed 30,000 sq.ft. Phase 4, which was due to £3.5m of investment from Worcestershire County Council alongside £370,000 from Malvern Hills District Council, is now also the new home for current tenants UTC Aerospace Systems. This new building in Phase 5 will now provide 16,000 sq.ft. of floor space which will be available to new companies or existing tenants seeking to grow their businesses.
Gary Woodman, Executive Director for the Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “Today’s decision is great news as this is vital employment site in south Worcestershire, and is already home to an impressive and significant cluster of cyber, IT and defence companies. Now consent has been granted, work can continue at pace and provide further space for local businesses to grow as well as attract further companies from this high-priority growth sector.”
Alan White, chief executive of the Malvern Hills Science Park, said: ‘I’m delighted to hear of today’s planning approval. Clearing the old factory premises to make way for Phase 5 will transform the approach to and the look of the park into something far more befitting of the world class technologies under development here, as well as bringing new opportunities and new jobs to Malvern and beyond.
Cllr Ken Pollock, Worcestershire County Council’s cabinet member for Economy, Skills & Infrastructure said: “It’s great to see one of our key game changers sites going from strength to strength, with the granting of planning permission for the next phase of the Malvern Hills Science Park. This project will not only provide a real strategic opportunity to drive forward technology, innovation and enterprise in the County but will replace an unattractive and under-used building with a new, vibrant and more flexible business space.
Cllr Rob Adams, chairman of the Planning & Regulatory Committee said: “The area in and around Malvern has a strong history of being a centre for invention, innovation and the development of new technology. This continues today with the growth of high tech and cyber security firms on the current Science Park and will be further strengthened with the development of this new facility.”
The decision for Phase 5 was following public consultation sessions held last year which resulted in a planning application being submitted during December 2015. A contractor will now be appointed to develop Phase 5 with the build planned to commence in the Summer and anticipated to take around nine months.