Daresbury to expand

is to offer more accommodation for technology and science-based businesses following a major new facility being granted planning permission.

Halton Borough Council has approved the building, Vanguard House, which is scheduled to be built over 12 months starting in September 2008.

Vanguard House will provide 3,250 m² of office and laboratory space divided into smaller units for companies already on the Campus to grow and to attract established innovative companies from across the country.

Minister for Science and Innovation, Ian Pearson, announced the agreement to build Vanguard House in April as part of a £25m deal between The Northwest Regional Development Agency, Daresbury Science & Innovation Campus and regeneration specialist St Modwen.

The new development adjoins the existing Daresbury Innovation Centre and the Cockcroft Institute (the National Centre for Accelerator Science). In total, it has the potential to supply up to 18.500m² of new accommodation and generate up to 1,200 jobs.