Science site to get a £54m refit for its new tenant
A RESEARCH block in a life sciences industrial park has had a £54 million refit for its new tenant.
The owners of the Charnwood Campus life-science hub in Loughborough recommissioned the synthetic and chemistry research facility for pre-clinical discovery contract research organisation (CRO) Charnwood Molecular.
The company was founded in 1998 as a spin out from Loughborough University and is a leader in its field, helping pharmaceutical and biotech companies around the world with drug development.
The three-storey research facility has been modernised by engineering firm Couch Perry Wilkes.
It follows the delivery of a number of complex projects for Charnwood Campus, including 33,000 sq ft of laboratory space for the Department of Health and Social Care’s Lighthouse Lab, which processes high volumes of samples for the UK’s Test and Trace programme.
The Charnwood Molecular block was paid for using £3.5 million of support from the enterprise zone reinvestment fund, with the cooperation of Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership (LLEP) and Charnwood Borough Council.
Charnwood Campus sits within a new enterprise zone which also takes in Loughborough University Science and Enterprise Park and the Leicester Waterside area.
The new laboratories will provide substantial capacity for future growth and expansion of Charnwood Molecular’s medicinal chemistry and process research teams, as well as allow it to add drug discovery service lines.
Charnwood Campus used Leicester firm Mellor Bromley as its contractor and Loughborough’s Addison Hunt to undertake project management, administration and quantity surveying roles.
Charnwood Campus commercial director Gosia Khrais said: “It is a great pleasure to welcome Charnwood Molecular as a new occupier.
“The project is a recommissioning of an existing facility to meet the bespoke requirements of this fantastic CRO, and includes construction of a car park with charging points.
“The project is part-funded by the LLEP following successful negotiation and drafting of the reinvestment mechanisms with both the LLEP and Charnwood Borough Council.
“This close co-operation is playing an instrumental role in fast-tracking site development, including this project, which is fuelling job creation in the area and wider region.
“Over the years, we have received a lot of positive feedback from local businesses and Loughborough residents. We are humbled and grateful for that support and we will continue to work to facilitate job creation, accelerate economic growth electric vehicle and play our part in the Covid recovery effort.”
Carl Hubbard, associate director at Couch Perry Wilkes, said: “It is a privilege to be involved in such a prestigious project.
“The work has extended the life and improved the building’s efficiencies and provided Charnwood Molecular with a future-proof base.”
Kevin Harris, chairman of the LLEP board of directors, said: “It is great that we have been able to help fund this project.
“Charnwood Campus is at the forefront of life sciences research, which we are very proud to specialise in at our enterprise zone.”