The team reopening the gold-clad Sensor City building in Liverpool say the project could help Liverpool in its ambitions to become a science ‘superpower’.
Sensor City, in Russell Street behind Lime Street station, as a start-up hub for high-tech entrepreneurs, particularly those working with sensor technology. But after a slow start it closed in 2020 and never reopened.
Now developer Sciontec, whose projects also include the busy Liverpool Science Park nearby, plans to reopen the building from May as “urban technology building” Central Tech.
The building, whose circuit-board style cladding became an instant local landmark, will be “a global hub for innovation in health, life sciences, technology and digitalisation”
Sciontec and the companies who move to Central Tech will work with other organisations within Liverpool’s wider Knowledge Quarter regeneration zone, which includes the Paddington Village redevelopment zone as well as the University of Liverpool, Liverpool John Moores University and Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine.
Professor Mark Power, vice-chancellor at Liverpool John Moores University and chair of Sciontec, said: “Sciontec has worked closely with the Sensor City company and the key grant funders, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to bring this important facility back to life, with vital new investment.
“This landmark deal with our universities, city council and private sector partner Bruntwood SciTech will mark an exciting transformation in the city’s innovation and technology infrastructure. We are confident that Central Tech will help to create high value jobs in health, science and technology and bring growth to the City Region.”
Sciontec is owned by developer Bruntwood SciTech with Liverpool city council, LJMU and the University of Liverpool. It took over Liverpool Science Park in 2020, and says the three buildings there are now operating near to full capacity, Sciontec is also working on the planned Hemisphere One and Two projects at Paddington Village, where it also developed the landmark Spine tower.
Trish Wallace, strategic projects and people manager at Sciontec, said: “Liverpool City Region is rapidly becoming a superpower in health and life sciences innovation, so we are pleased to announce our plans to reopen the building and invite anyone that would like to see the space for themselves to contact us.”
Councillor Nick Small, Liverpool city council’s cabinet member for growth and economy, said: “This announcement of new investment is fantastic news for the city’s Knowledge Quarter and a huge vote of confidence in our blossoming life sciences sector. This building will be an amazing facility and builds on the recent multi-million pound boost for our plans to continue the development of nearby Paddington Village. This kind of investment attracts high quality businesses and high skilled, well-paid jobs and I’ll be delighted to see Central Tech open its doors.”
Professor Tim Jones, vice-chancellor of the University of Liverpool, said: “Liverpool has a growing global reputation for digital innovation and Central Tech has the opportunity to help us shift that dial even further, providing a unique, supportive environment where new ideas can flourish, centrally located in the heart of the city.”
Chris Oglesby, CEO of Bruntwood SciTech, said: “The acquisition of Sensor City marks a significant milestone in ours and Sciontec’s ongoing commitment to further enhancing innovation and growth within Knowledge Quarter Liverpool. Central Tech will serve as a dynamic hub for health, life sciences, technology and digitalisation, while continuing to drive high-value job creation and contributing to the economic growth in this vibrant region.”
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