Aston Science Park announces huge expansion

January 7 2003

Birmingham's Aston Science Park today announced a £100 million expansion plan that will double its size and lead to the creation of hundreds of jobs.

The plan will create a 60 acre integrated campus for Aston Science Park and Aston University, linking in with the University's own recently-announced expansion plans. New buildings on the Science Park will offer more than a quarter of a million square feet of lettable space.

The expansion will mean that the Aston Triangle will be one of the most significant areas in the Midlands for new and high technology companies linked directly to academic expertise. It will also link Birmingham's Eastside development with the city centre and the business quarter.

Aston Science Park currently covers 22 acres and provides a home for more than 100 businesses employing 1400 people. This is expected to double with the Science Park's planned expansion.

The plans also involve improving the physical connections between the Science Park and the Gosta Green University Village Square, removing physical barriers and providing pedestrian and public transport boulevards linking the Aston Triangle to the Eastside Learning and Technology Quarter and Millennium Point.

Aston Science Park chief executive Dr Derek Harris said the aim was to build on the Park's 20-year success story.

'The Science Park has already provided many companies with a supportive home as they grow and develop. Our business incubation units are second to none and have provided an environment in which new companies can flourish and grow. Now we aim to build on that success, providing opportunities for new companies to take advantage of what we have to offer,' he said.
'We have always enjoyed very close links to the University. Now that relationship will move on still further, eliminating road barriers and establishing new physical links that will encourage an active exchange between the Science Park and University communities,' he added.

The first major phase of the development, timed for next year will involve two new six-story blocks with 100,000 square feet of lettable space.

This will be followed by a flagship development of two further blocks, connected by an atrium, providing a further 150,000 square feet of space on eight levels, fronting the Aston Expressway. As well as Science Park tenants this development will include business-related shops and amenities including extensive hotel and conference facilities.

Some existing Science Park buildings will be extended and refurbished, providing an extra 65,000 square feet of space, up to the standards of the recently completed Faraday Wharf business incubator unit.

Dr Harris said, 'This is, without doubt, the most exciting development of the Science Park's 20 year history and will create a focus of learning, technology and business of which Birmingham will be justifiably proud. It will reinforce Aston's position as a world leader among science parks'

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