£5m of Government funding for Alderley Park development

Alderley Park aerial image

The Government has allocated £15.5m from the Getting Building Fund to the Cheshire and Warrington Local Enterprise Partnership for investment in local, 'shovel-ready' infrastructure projects designed to stimulate jobs and support economic recovery.

The allocation of £15.5m will support the following three projects:

Chester Drainage Tunnel - A new 1km long rainwater drainage tunnel, which forms a critical part of delivering Phase 1 of the Northgate scheme in the centre of Chester which will deliver a new market, a cinema, food/beverage units, offices and new public realm/event space.

All Electric Bus Fleet Depot, Warrington - The new depot, on land owned by Warrington Borough Council has received planning permission. It involves the relocation of Warrington's Own Buses Depot from its current site to a purpose built new depot.

Alderley Park Validation Centre of Excellence, Macclesfield - Building on the success of the Medicines Discovery Catapult led Lighthouse Lab, Medicines Discovery Catapult and Alderley Park will create a new Validation Centre of Excellence for innovative diagnostics, biomarkers and complex medicines and develop the UK's onshore diagnostic capability and capacity and the associated supply chain.

The project incorporates the creation of specialist laboratories, including a Category 3 biosafety facility for testing of new diagnostics, biomarkers and therapeutics for highly infectious pathogens, including respiratory viruses such as Covid-19.

Alderley Park has been allocated £5.05m of the funding for the creation of a Validation Centre of Excellence for diagnostics, biomarkers and complex medicines. The project is working alongside the Medicines Discovery Catapult.

Dr Kath Mackay, managing director of Bruntwood SciTech - Alderley Park, said: "It's brilliant that Alderley Park has been recognised by the government for its world-leading facilities and scientific capabilities. This additional investment will help us to continue building our life science cluster at the Park and will enable us to play a key role in stimulating economic growth within the region and UK."

Professor Peter Simpson, chief scientific officer at Medicines Discovery Catapult, said: "I am delighted with this funding, that will enable us to extend the state of the art lab capabilities which we already offer to companies and innovators in this region.

"The Validation Centre will enable translational research for new therapeutics and diagnostics that will improve the UK's response to major health challenges. This will become a fantastic new life science asset in Cheshire East."

The Council has worked with Cheshire and Warrington Local Enterprise Partnership to identify projects that will support sub-regional economic recovery and local businesses, as set out in the Government's 'New Deal' programme for Britain.

Councillor Craig Browne, deputy leader of Cheshire East Council, said: "The council is committed to supporting scientific research and innovation in Cheshire East, home to cutting-edge life science facilities that are internationally acclaimed for their highly skilled workforce.

"This investment recognises the significance of these leading projects and the fundamental role that Cheshire East can play in fighting life changing and life-threatening infections, including Covid-19."

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