A 50,000 sq ft business incubator facility aimed at start-ups in advanced engineering and manufacturing has been completed, the first block to be built as part of Warrington’s £190m Stadium Quarter scheme in Dallam Lane.
Contractor ISG finished work on the five-storey building, known as The Base, at the end of last year, and the office is due to be opened by Bill Holroyd, High Sheriff of Cheshire, at an event on 21 January.
The facility is expected to be capable of supporting up to 100 small businesses. Flexible space is available from a single desk to 10,000 sq ft floorplates.
Funding for the project has come from a £1.7m European Regional Development Fund grant and a £6.7m investment from Warrington Council.
The Stadium Quarter scheme was announced by Warrington Council in March 2013 and is a joint venture with the Iliad Group. The project will connect the bus interchange with the Warrington Wolves’ Halliwell Jones Stadium and create a mixed-use development comprising educational, business, leisure and housing.
Construction management of the incubator was led by Faithful + Gould, part of the Atkins group. Falconer Chester Hall was the architect.
Langtree Property Partners has been appointed to manage the building.
Cllr Terry O’Neill, leader of Warrington Council, said: "The level of company formation in Warrington just keeps on growing as business people realise that the skills and expertise they need are here in abundance.
"The Base plays to the town’s strengths. Ambitious businesses want to co-locate with like-minded firms in their early days before they reach a size where they need to spread their wings and so there will be a business development manager on hand to lend their experience as part of the overall package. A home like this gives small firms enhanced credibility.”
The first tenant is due to move in to the building in early February and discussions are already underway with a number of other parties with regards to taking space.
See more at www.placenorthwest.co.uk