Builder and developer Seddon has been appointed to deliver a £7 million state-of-the art innovation centre at Keele University Science and Innovation Park.
The project will see the firm build the three storey, 65,336 sqft Innovation Centre 5 (IC5) at the university’s flagship science park.
IC5 is the latest in a series of facilities at Keele University Science and Innovation Park, providing high quality office and workshop space for new and existing medical, technology and engineering enterprises.
Seddon will build the shell and core of the IC5 building, along with three separate wings and associated external hard and soft landscaping.
Work has already begun on the development and is expected to be completed by April 2016.
Seddon secured the project after being appointed to the four year, £40 million construction framework for Staffordshire County Council.
The framework has seen Seddon build four schools for the council since 2012, with the company also recently appointed to deliver the £5.5 million Veritas Academy primary school in Stafford.
Staffordshire County Council’s economy leader Mark Winnington said: “We are pleased to see work on the new innovation centre get underway with Seddon. We took the decision to invest in the project four years ago so this is a real milestone. It will further Keele University Science and Business Park’s reputation internationally as a prime location for innovation in the medical, technology and engineering sectors. The expansion of the park will lead to an increase in the cluster of this type of industry in Staffordshire and we are confident this can continue to grow. The centre will add to our drive to attract high quality businesses and jobs and bring real long-term benefits to the county.”
As part of the development for Keele University, Seddon will also work with local schools to provide health and safety talks for children, and to introduce what careers are available in construction.
Eamonn Burns, Regional Director for the Midlands, said: “We are delighted to be developing this much needed office and industrial space for Keele University and the cutting edge science and technology companies that will find a home there.
“This latest development builds on the range of exciting projects we have delivered for Staffordshire County Council over the past three years.
“Our latest scheme in the Midlands builds on a great year for the company in the region that has seen Seddon bolster the team and expand with new offices in Birmingham.”
