A research block in a life-science industrial park has undergone a £54 million refit for its new tenant.
The owners of the Charnwood Campus life-science hub in Loughborough have recommissioned the synthetic and chemistry research facility to the highest standard to cater to the needs of pre-clinical discovery contract research organisation (CRO) Charnwood Molecular.
Charnwood Molecular 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 their drug development programmes.
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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 海角视频 Department of Health and Social Care’s Lighthouse Lab, which briefly processed high volumes of samples for the 海角视频’s test and trace programme.
The Charnwood Molecular block was paid for using £3.5 million of support from the Enterprise Zone reinvestment fund facilitated through co-operation with the Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership (LLEP) and Charnwood Borough Council.
Charnwood Campus sits within a new enterprise zone which also takes in the 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.
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Charnwood Campus used Leicester-based Mellor Bromley as its contractors and Loughborough’s Addison Hunt to undertake project management and 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 here.
“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 EV charging points.
“Delivering the greatest value to organisations that relocate to Charnwood Campus is at the core of everything we do, and partners like Couch Perry Wilkes enable us to do just that.
“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 (CBC).
“This close co-operation is playing an instrumental role in fast-tracking site development, including this project, which is fuelling job creation in the local area as well as the wider region.
“We are lucky to have a forward-thinking and business- and community-orientated council, as well as an open-minded and ambitious LLEP.
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“Over the years, we have received a lot of positive feedback from local businesses and Loughborough residents.
“We are very humbled and grateful for that support, and we will continue to work tirelessly to facilitate job creation, accelerate economic growth 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 to bring a state-of-the-art building back to life to support the development and growth of its ambitious new occupier, following Couch Perry Wilkes’ previous successful delivery of the Lighthouse Lab facility at Charnwood Campus.
“The works have extended the life and improved the building’s efficiencies and provide Charnwood Molecular with a future-proof base in which expand its team and service lines.”
Kevin Harris, chair of the LLEP board of directors said: “It is great that we have been able to help fund this project with a £3.5 million grant from our Enterprise Zone Investment Fund. Charnwood Campus is at the forefront of life sciences research, which we are very proud to specialise in at our Enterprise Zone here in Leicestershire.
“The grant has enabled fast tracking of the site development and will help create more highly-skilled jobs in our region.”
Charnwood Campus was once a research facility for Astra Zeneca, and after they pulled out became the first 海角视频’s Life Sciences Opportunity Zone. It is home to blue-chip organisations including Almac, 3M and Kindeva.