Exeter Science Park
The first building to be completed at Exeter Science Park
Location of Exeter Science Park in Devon, UK
LocationClyst Honiton, Devon, UK
Coordinates50°43′52″N 3°27′23″W / 50.7311°N 3.4565°W / 50.7311; -3.4565
Opening date2015
DeveloperKier Group
Construction cost£8 million
Size26 hectares (64 acres)
Websiteexetersciencepark.co.uk

Exeter Science Park is a business park in the United Kingdom for companies specialising in science and technology. It is a 26 hectares (64 acres) site next to junction 29 of the M5 motorway, between Clyst Honiton and the outskirts of the city of Exeter.[1] The park is linked to the University of Exeter Innovation Centre, which provides accommodation for knowledge-intensive business start-ups.[2] Exeter University was stimulated to develop the park by the desire to turn ideas generated at the university into products and services that could be marketed.[2] It is managed by Peninsula Innovations, a subsidiary of Exeter University which also runs the Innovation Centre.

Construction

The Exeter Science Park Centre was built by the construction firm Kier Group and cost £8m to construct; it was opened in June 2015. It was commissioned by the Exeter Science Park Company, a partnership between Devon County Council, the University of Exeter, the Exeter City Council and the East Devon District Council. The first phase of the project is a three-storey building of 30,000 sq ft (2,800 m2) which includes laboratories, offices and meeting rooms as well as public areas and a café. A further phase of 20,000 sq ft (1,900 m2) is planned, and when fully developed, the science park will comprise a million square feet of accommodation and employ in the region of 3,000 people.[3] Three further buildings on the site are planned to be delivered by 2018, offering space for start-ups and small and medium-sized enterprises.[2]

Occupants

Services commerce company Blur Group became the first commercial business to move to the park in November 2013.[4][5]

The Met Office took delivery of an IT hall and neighbouring office building at the Science Park in late 2016. The IT hall houses a new supercomputer, the Met Office's third.[6]

As of October 2017, the Science Park has over 16 other tenants.[7]

Redhayes Bridge

Redhayes Bridge
Redhayes Bridge

The Redhayes pedestrian and cycle bridge over the M5 evolved from a study looking at green infrastructure in Exeter and East Devon that led to a successful bid for £5.5 million to the Community Infrastructure Fund. The bridge links Blackhorse Lane to Hollow Lane, beside the park. It was opened on 20 July 2011 by Transport Minister Norman Baker.[8] The bridge won a British Construction Industry Award in 2011.[9]

See also

References

  1. ^ Parks, Liz (23 October 2013). "Science park funding talks are under way". Western Morning News. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 1 December 2013.
  2. ^ a b c "Creating a Science Park for Exeter". University of Exeter. Retrieved 1 December 2013.
  3. ^ Richardson, G. (5 May 2015). "Photos: First look inside new £8m Exeter Science Park Centre". Exeter Express & Echo. Archived from the original on 2 August 2015. Retrieved 15 August 2016.
  4. ^ "blur Group get the keys to their new purpose built Devon headquarters". investdevon.co.uk. Devon County Council. 29 November 2013.
  5. ^ "Shadow business secretary 'Exeter could become the UK's answer to Silicon Valley'". Express & Echo. 22 November 2013. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 1 December 2013.
  6. ^ Taylor, David (18 October 2016). "Heavy Weather". The Construction Index.
  7. ^ "Park Tenants". www.exetersciencepark.co.uk. Retrieved 30 October 2017.
  8. ^ "Redhayes Bridge". www.exeterandeastdevon.gov.uk. 2013. Retrieved 14 December 2013.
  9. ^ "Winners 2011". www.bciawards.org.uk. 2011. Retrieved 14 December 2013.

External links

Coordinates: 50°43′52″N 3°27′23″W / 50.7311°N 3.4565°W / 50.7311; -3.4565

University of Exeter
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