UBS Asset Management and Reef Group have received planning permission to build one of Europe’s largest life science campuses in Stevenage.
The 15-building campus will be named ‘Elevate Quarter’ and will be set around a central green with an interconnecting network of paths and open spaces. The buildings will offer R&D lab and office space, GMP manufacturing facilities and flexible lab buildings, as well as training, innovation and collaboration spaces.
Piers Slater, joint chief executive of Reef Group, said: “The approval of our new life science campus in Stevenage further cements its position as Europe’s leading cluster for advanced therapies. Stevenage is ideally positioned to attract world-class talent and the campus will facilitate further collaboration between major multinationals and biotechs. The campus has been designed to allow these life science businesses to grow and scale-up over time and to create an open and accessible environment for both employees and the wider public.”
Olivia Drew, portfolio manager, real estate and private markets, at UBS Asset Management, added: “The delivery of the new life science campus will leverage years of unparalleled experience across both UBS and Reef. The buildings have been carefully designed to be at the cutting edge of sustainability and will facilitate world-leading R&D and advanced manufacturing. The new campus will support thousands of new jobs and boost the UK’s position as a global life sciences leader.”
Dr Tony Wood, chief scientific officer at GSK, said: “New lab space and facilities for the cutting-edge biotech companies of the future are in short supply, so we’re delighted to support the creation of a new life sciences campus at the heart of the ‘golden triangle’ of London, Oxford and Cambridge. Situated alongside one of our global R&D hubs, this is a really positive development for the sector and it’s great that we’re one step closer to work starting on the new Stevenage development.”
Dr Sally Ann Forsyth OBE, chief executive officer of Stevenage Bioscience Catalyst, said: “This is a landmark day for Stevenage and UK science, strengthening our position on the global stage for technological and scientific excellence. This campus will build on the supportive environment created here and our reputation as a leading location for the scale up of companies and commercialisation of therapies that will have a transformative impact on future health outcomes.”
Councillor Richard Henry, leader of Stevenage Borough Council, added: “We welcome this new development for the town, which has secured a resolution to grant consent. This will expand and build upon the existing campus, with cutting edge science opening up jobs and delivering economic benefits to the town. We will work closely with our partners and life science companies to unlock these job opportunities for our communities and local people, as we continue to make Stevenage even better.
“Stevenage is a hugely important location for this sector. Through partnership working we are transforming our town and we are committed to securing the best for our residents, communities, and businesses.”
Construction of the new campus is expected to start later this year with completion of phase one targeted for Q4 2025.
