Cheshire East Council's Strategic Planning Board today (Wednesday 24th February) granted outline planning approval for the proposed development at Alderley Park, which is aimed at securing its future as an internationally significant life science facility.
The approved development, subject to referral to the Secretary of State, will provide 38,000 sq m of new space for life sciences in addition to over 100,000 sq m of space for life sciences already in place and could in time, secure as many as 7,000 jobs in the future.
In addition to new and reconfigured commercial space, the development aims to deliver up to 275 new homes which will help to finance the necessary investment required to repurpose the science campus. Alongside the housing development, a new village hub will offer complementary uses such as a shop, gastro pub and hotel.
The site will also be made more accessible for local residents. For the first time, the local community will be able to access footpaths, woodland and heritage parkland, which will create links to the surrounding public footpath and bridleway network through National Trust land around Alderley Edge. The existing sport and recreation facilities will be reconfigured and enhanced and will also be available for the public to enjoy.
Rowena Burns, Chief Executive Officer of Manchester Science Partnerships said: "The Planning Board's decision today is great news for the future of life sciences at Alderley Park. It means that we can now move forward with our plans to improve and grow the, internationally important life science campus here, ensuring that Alderley Park remains at the forefront of scientific research.
"The Alderley Park Taskforce strived to deliver an impactful legacy for the site, both commercially and as a community asset. These plans represent the start of an exciting new phase in the history of Alderley Park, that will not only serve the bio science sector, but that will also be something that the community will benefit from."
Alderley Park is a significant driver of the local and regional economy, and could contribute circa £245 million per annum. It will also provide a boost to the job market with up to 415 construction jobs per year, being sustained during the ten-year construction phase of the development.
Rowena Burns, added "The site has sustained many thousands of local high-quality jobs, both on and off-site over the years. Alderley Park will remain a key location for Astra Zeneca as over 700 employees will continue to be based there. We now look forward to working on the more detailed plans for Alderley Park as a world-class science hub."
