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keele:NEWS
Keele development
Keele University development
project gets under way
A £73 million development
project at Keele University
and its Science Park is now
well under way.
Lord Stafford, former Pro-Chancellor and Chair
of the University Council, conducted a ceremony
in July to mark the beginning of the infrastructure
works at the 70-acre site to the east of the
University. This flagship scheme is expected
to create around 1,100 new jobs and 40 highquality
businesses.
It is expected that the on-site infrastructure works
will be completed by early summer, while the built
development is scheduled to begin during 2008
and continue over the next 10 years.
The overall cost of the on-site and off-site
infrastructure works is currently estimated at
£8.3 million, and is being funded by Advantage
West Midlands and the North Staffordshire
Regeneration Zone under an agreement with
Keele University Science and Business Park Limited
and Keele University.
Thirty-eight acres of land will accommodate
a mixed-use development of high-quality
commercial buildings for knowledge-based
companies, academic research facilities, a
specialist conference centre and student
residential accommodation.
Another 32 acres of land will incorporate open
space, landscaping, roads and services. All of
the existing mature woodlands surrounding
the site are to be retained as a backcloth to
the development.
The works are being carried out by Wrekin
Construction Company Limited. The company
won the contract for these works against
strong competition having being judged against
a full range of factors such as value for money,
deliverability, sustainability and benefits to the
local supply chain.
The other partners involved in bringing
forward the site for development are Poole
Dick Associates, Wardell Armstrong, Staffordshire
County Council, Watermans and Hulme
Upright Manning.
Professor Janet Finch, Vice-Chancellor of Keele
University said: “The new development site will
be vital not only for Keele University but also in
contributing to a sustainable economic future
for Stoke-on-Trent, Newcastle-under-Lyme
and North Staffordshire. The establishment
of new high-value, knowledge-based industries
on the new site will strengthen the long-term
competitiveness of the area.”
The photograph shows, left to right, Keele’s Vice-
Chancellor Janet Finch, Mayor of Newcastle-under-Lyme
David Clarke, David Barlow of Advantage West Midlands,
Anthony Brown of Wrekin Construction, Lord Stafford
and Eric Hassall, Deputy Pro-Chancellor and Chairman
of Keele University Science and Business Park Limited.
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forever:keele | issue : three : April 2008