Networking Hub for Liverpool Innovation Park boosted with £4m

1 September 2010

Liverpool Innovation Park (LIP) operator Space North West is investing £2.5 million, matched with £1.42 million from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), to create a new networking hub and business gateway to its Edge Lane site.

The Innovation Park (incorporating Wavertree Technology Park) is a key element of Liverpool's knowledge economy and a strategic site for investment in the North West being delivered by Space North West, a joint venture between the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) and Ashtenne Industrial Fund and facilitated by Liverpool Vision, the city's Economic Development Company.

Scheduled for completion in early 2011, the Park's new networking hub will serve as an impressive reception, in which tenants receive guests, meet like-minded entrepreneurs, exhibit products and services, and access professional business support services.

Space will also be created for a tenanted cafe-cum-bistro overlooking attractive landscaped gardens, which together will provide a focus for social activities on the Park.

Associated refurbishment works will also create 1,629 sqm of Grade A out of town offices, ideal for knowledge-intensive businesses requiring easy access to Liverpool's busy business district, its vibrant cultural heart, and Knowledge Quarter, without city centre costs.

Wayne Locke, Ashtenne Regional Director leading the LIP Project, said:

"Liverpool Innovation Park is already an excellent strategic location for knowledge-intensive businesses and the new networking hub will further enhance the Park's offer and its ability to contribute towards growing Liverpool's Knowledge Economy."

Contractors, Mansell Construction Services Ltd are due to start work on site at Liverpool Innovation Park this month, which is anticipated to be complete by the end of January 2011.

The design team appointed by Space Northwest comprises Archial as architects, HFM as building services engineers, WYG as civil & structural engineers and Todd & Ledson as quantity surveyors.

Steven Broomhead, Chief Executive of the NWDA, said:

"Situated on Edge Lane, the gateway entrance route into the city, Liverpool Innovation Park has already contributed to the ongoing regeneration of the area. Improvements to the Park's own gateway and reception will attract further investment and tie into the linear park."

Mark Tock, the Park's Innovation Manager, said:

"This investment in LIP's innovation-campus environment will create informal breathing space away from the office in which entrepreneurs can innovate. We are grateful for the assistance of partners at NWDA and Liverpool Vision for helping make this project a reality."

Liverpool Vision will continue to oversee the project as it develops.

Max Steinberg, Chief Executive of Liverpool Vision, said:

"The Knowledge Sector is increasingly important to Liverpool and its renaissance as an international city. We want Liverpool to become an international knowledge centre with world leading university and private sector expertise with research and development centres of excellence with quality digital and physical infrastructure.

"This site is at the heart of our ambition and this particular project work will help invigorate the Innovation Park, giving it a true sense of place and help attract more cutting edge knowledge based industries.

"At the same time it forms part of the wider Edge Lane Project which is about providing highway and environmental improvements to complement the housing, community, commercial and retail developments as well as helping to create new employment opportunities."

For more information about developments at Liverpool Innovation Park call 01512614665 or email Mark.Tock@Ashtenne.co.uk or visit www.liverpoolinnovationpark.com

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