Keele Innovation District

Details

Background

The Keele Science Park is already home to around 60 businesses, 1000 staff, local and global companies and 400 researchers working on everything from novel biomaterials to cancer diagnostics. It currently has 95% occupancy, with pipeline interest for 20 acres and the vision is to build a thriving interconnected community of innovators, researchers, learners and educators, bringing opportunities for all.

The opportunity

This project will increase the Science & Innovation Park’s footprint by around 330%, to provide almost 1 million sq ft of specialist space and build on a strong cohort and pipeline of global and locally-grown companies working in digital technologies, advanced materials, life sciences and energy and environment. It has the potential to create 5,400 on-site jobs by 2045, accommodating the larger footprints needed to grow the area’s innovation base, and will sit within a wider investment zone with new neighbourhoods clustered around the University – all nestled in high quality Country Park environments offering sustainable and active travel options.

• Offer enhanced sustainable and active travel options

The vision is to build a thriving interconnected community of innovators, researchers, learners and educators, bringing opportunities for all communities where learning and innovation crosses boundaries and where both thinkers
and doers can thrive.

This would be a place where the outdoors provides breathing space, walking
routes and social spaces in a beautiful biodiverse environment, alongside facilities for larger scale R&D and manufacturing, state of the art facilities for science-based and knowledge-led businesses, a digital infrastructure fit for future, shared spaces for collaborative R&D and indoor and outdoor social spaces.