British Land has created an innovation advisory council to support its growth in the life science and innovation sectors. The council will be chaired by Lynn Gladden, Shell professor of chemical engineering at the University of Cambridge and non-executive director at British Land.
The four other members of the council are Sam Barrell, deputy chief executive of The Francis Crick Institute; Ian Campbell, executive director at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology; Bernard Taylor, member of the advisory board of the Royal Society and a director of the ERA Foundation; and Tim Whitley, MD of applied research at BT.
Simon Carter, chief executive of British Land said: “As we expand in this area, we are privileged to have some of the best and brightest minds across the life science and innovation sectors to advise and guide us on our journey. Our portfolio of high quality assets across Regent’s Place, Canada Water and Cambridge, combined with our expertise in asset management, development and campuses, means we are uniquely positioned to meet demand for well-located, well-connected and highly sustainable work and lab space for these growing sectors.”
Gladden added: “The council will be instrumental in supporting British Land’s continued growth in life sciences and innovation sectors. We believe that British Land has the right assets in the right places as well as the operational capabilities to meet the demand for high quality and well-managed space that provides the flexibility for businesses to grow and interact with one another.
“The council members have deep knowledge and practical experience of the needs and aspirations of the life sciences and innovation communities. They also bring experience of creating, and attracting investment into, research and innovation ecosystems across the Golden Triangle and insights into innovation ecosystems at the national and international scale.”
British Land has already delivered lab enabled space at Regent’s Place and Canada Water (pictured) and has a pipeline of 1.9m sq ft of lab and innovation space within its existing portfolio, with circa 200,000 sq ft due to be delivered by the end of the current financial year.
The members of the council have been appointed for an initial term of two years on a remunerated basis.
