Agenda item

                 Report by Executive Director Alistair Cunningham OBE.

Cllr Philip Whitehead, Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Economic Development introduced a report seeking Cabinet’s endorsement of funding for a second phase of development at Porton Science Park, to help achieve the long-term vision for growing high value activity in the defence and health/life sciences sectors at this centre of excellence.

The Leader explained that the first phase of the Porton Science Park became operational in January 2018 and was now at 90% capacity. The Park was proving to be very successful, although it was essentially a workspace focussed facility with no readily available business support on offer, and lacked meeting, conferencing and collaborative space. Phase 2 would deliver a research and innovation facility linked to the Porton Campus, providing the much-needed facilities and would be partially financed by a European Regional Development Funding grant.

Cllr Ian Thorn, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group, who welcomed the proposals. In response to questions from Cllr Thorn about the yield, profitability and risks of Phase 2 and whether there was an opportunity to scrutinise the proposals, the Leader and Executive Director explained that Phase 1 generated a return on investment, risks had been mitigated by the use of EU funding and there were plans to recruit a Director to manage the facility. It is expected that Scrutiny would have involvement at the appropriate time.

In response to a question from Cllr Mike Hewitt about the widest use of conferencing facilities, in addition to those ‘on-site’, the Leader confirmed that this was the case.

Resolved: To endorse:

1.    the funding of £2,500,000.00 capital to enable the draw-down of match European funding for the costs of building a 20,000 sq ft (1858 sqm) Innovation centre at Porton Science Park, and to provide specialist business support, training and development on-site.

2.    an additional £2,500,000.00 capital to fund an additional 1858 sqm, enabling a larger 3716 sqm building to be constructed, which will provide grow-on space, additional employment from the scheme and enable an economy of scale. As with the first phase building at Porton, the additional space will be built as a shell, with a reduced price per sqm charged to reflect the fit-out costs the tenant will bear.

Reason for decision:

1.    To progress delivery of Porton Science Park, in partnership with Dstl and PHE.

2.    To ensure that businesses at Porton Science Park do not need to travel out of the SWLEP area for innovation support because this project will provide free access to this in situ.

3.    To offer flexible space for meetings and a collaborative laboratory space supported by existing ultrafast broadband provision, as well as creative and recreational space to support networking.

4.    To build on existing innovation assets at Porton Science Campus (including the specialist technology which may be made available at Dstl and PHE) and directly develop opportunities for exchange between small and medium sized enterprises and larger research bodies in the area.

5.    To establish links to higher education institutions, researchers and academics on a national basis, as well as Catapult centres and other centres of excellence.

6.    To increase demand from the SME business base for research and development activity by lowering the barrier to entry and providing an affordable space for these activities to be undertaken.

7.    To enhance innovation capacity within SWLEP based SMEs including the ability to undertake end-to-end research and development for new products and process innovations, including opportunities to work in collaboration with research institutes.