Science park set to create 2,000 jobs

12:00am Saturday 27th October 2012 in News

Science park set to create 2,000 jobs Science park set to create 2,000 jobs

THOUSANDS of hi-tech jobs are set to be created on Andover’s doorstep when a science park is built, thanks to a successful £10m bid for Government funding.

Wiltshire Council and a joint development company comprising Trebor Developments LLP and Wrenbridge Land Limited were successful in a joint bid to develop a science park at Porton, midway between Andover and Salisbury.

The initiative is predicted to bring 2,000 jobs over a ten-year-period and bring national and international investment into the area.

Andover MP Sir George Young has welcomed the news. He said: “As you know I have been anxious to broaden the base of the local economy and get a bigger stake in the newer technology-based industries.

“I hope this will encourage other employers to move into the area and offer employment to local people in the jobs of the future.”

The Porton Science Park will be based near leading scientific institutions, the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) and the Health Protection Agency (HPA) at the Porton Down site.

It will provide facilities for science and researchbased industries and could attract £70m of private sector investment in the next ten years.

The development is expected to attract high levels of investment from both the UK and foreign bioscience and healthcare sectors.

The successful bid for £10m funding from the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) will help kick-start the first phase of the science park project, creating the infrastructure for the planned 355,000 sq ft science park and a new 23,000 sq ft innovation centre.

Wiltshire Council leader Jane Scott said: “This is really good news for the whole of Wiltshire as the Porton Science Park will lead the way in the science and technology industry.

“It will mean more jobs for local people and more investment into this county and its communities.”

Comments(3)

i-speak-the-truth says...
9:06am Sat 27 Oct 12

Whilst I welcome the news of new jobs, this is hardly "on Andover's doorstep". Porton Science Park is 16 miles away from Andover and this is more likely benefit the people of Salisbury, Wiltshire.

Why Sir George is so pleased is baffling as it's not in his constituency nor even the county he represents!

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Andoverpostie says...
2:56pm Sun 28 Oct 12

I have to agree with the person above, this is hardly going to be a massive jobs boost for Andover, and as he says, it's not even in Sir Georges constituency, is this a case of jumping on the bandwagon, surely he should be concentrating on attracting these hi tech companies to the vacant buildings that are on the four existing industrial sites in Andover, instead of congratulating another county.

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PBenham says...
11:18pm Sun 28 Oct 12

I disagree with the previous two posts. A significant number of people working at DSTL and HPA commute from Andover. No reason to believe that those working on the promised science park will be any different. This is very good news for Andover and Salisbury.

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