LEICESTER | Science Park - Abbey Meadows | U/C

[Leicity82]

To retain more graduates in Leicester a science park has just started at Abbey Meadows, nextdoor to the National Space Centre. It will cost £60 million and will create around 1,000 jobs and will offer space in varying units, for start-up businesses to more established ones.

Key industries to be represented will be in medicine, space science, biotechnology, design and others.

See the LRC's site for more details:Leicester Regeneration Company website






All above from LRC website

[PAC_MAN]

Good news for the Science park, even though developers have just started construction!

OFFICES ARE SO POPULAR

10:30 - 07 August 2007

The Abbey Meadows Office Park has a third of its buildings already under offer.

The new-build office scheme on Abbey Meadows West, in Leicester, is within a mixed use redevelopment, including riverside homes, Science Park and car showroom.

The proposals are proving very popular, report joint agents Mather Jamie, with potential occupiers keen to seek an early position within the development

Located off Abbey Lane, Abbey Meadows West is next to the proposed science park and will provide a new access road to the National Space Centre from Abbey Lane.

Alex Reid, of Mather Jamie - jointly marketing the site with Lambert Smith Hampton - said the scheme is exciting, offering a mix of offices to buy or let in an area of the city undergoing major regeneration.

He said: "Five of the 15 units are already under offer and we anticipate that the others will be snapped up.

"This development is the first of its type offering smaller owner-occupier office space so close to the city centre."

Jane Taylor, of Lambert Smith Hampton, said: "Abbey Meadows West is within easy reach of the city centre and ring road network and is within walking distance of high-quality leisure amenities such as Greens Health and Fitness Club and Abbey Park."

The development is due to complete in spring or summer 2008 and will have self-contained two-storey office buildings ranging from 2,043 square feet to 7,406 square feet .

Each unit will include suspended ceilings, gas central heating, car-parking in a landscaped setting and disabled access.

Individual buildings are available to rent at a cost of £14 per square foot. The freehold cost is £190 per square foot.

[Leicity82]

That is good news - I wonder who will be moving in?

[Kurt Nirvana]

I’ve just read that their building a new Audi showroom close to the new science park.

This is great, but if it’s replacing the one in Woodgate, it’s going to mean the already neglected areas of Woodgate / Frog Island are loosing another business.

[Lester Regen]

Don't panic about the Audi Showroom moving, that whole area is planned under the waterfront development to improve. There'd already been a number of showrooms which closed. That area will be great, it's so close to the Highcross Development.

The Science Park is going to be great for the city, it will be an opportunity for graduates to stay in the city as well as attracting new businesses here too.

[Leicity82]

If you've not already read it I've posted a post in the waterside thread about who has been chosen for the waterside masterplan.

[candida]

The new link road is due for completion this October according to the LRC's website

http://www.leicesterregeneration.co..../28-08-07.html

[Leicity82]

New, but very small, image of first offices to open in autumn 2008:


Source: Leicester Mercury website.

[Lears City]

Originally Posted by rs06

New, but very small, image of first offices to open in autumn 2008:


Source: Leicester Mercury website.

Whereabouts are those offices going to be exactly?

[Leicity82]

They'll be next to the Space Centre according to the Mercury - site of the former school maybe?

[philkeavo]

The render of the new office development as seen in the Mercury are so dull and lifeless, I found it so depressing looking at them. Nicholls the Regeneration Chief was grinning like a chesire cat like it was some big fucking deal. You see crap office developments like this at every non descript logistic/warehouse park off every motorway junction in nowhereville. Is this really the scale of our ambitions for our supposedly prime science & technology park?

I am sorry but Leicester is going backwards again and selling its soul to the cheapest, crappiest, money grabbing developer. Should this area not be about inspiring modern architecture to reflect the optimism of space exploration and be a real statement of intent about Leicester putting itself on the map?

I am sure someone will reply and say this is only the start, but I say start as you mean to go on and on that point it aint going to be much. I name and shame Stanislav Andryszewski and John Nicholls of Leicester Regeneration Company for selling theirs and our souls for a few shekels. I want them to come on here and explain their actions...... fat chance.

[Leicity82]

I agree with you about their 'bog standard' appearence.

[danz013]

Originally Posted by rs06

New, but very small, image of first offices to open in autumn 2008:


Source: Leicester Mercury website.

That looks unbelievably bland. philkeavo is absolutely right. Every out of town business park in the country look like/as good as that. Considering Science will play an important role in the future of our economies, and also considering that Notts is the only official Science City in the region... Leicester is making no attempt to attract science based businesses with this one.

[braunstone geezer]

your absolutley right danz,

these offices are exactly the same shit that can be found in the leicester mercury buisiness section under the 'to let' section. apart from the white paint job, these offices are being built all around the country, exactley the same design and everything.

theres some being built near me near fosse park, but these come with a wicked man made lake that attracts all kind ofwild life (well rabbits and geese)

as for leicester science park thing, have they even started that yet?

[Leicity82]

Well that is the start isn't it???

[candida]

I don't think that small science businesses can afford stylish offices. And that is what this first phase is going to attract. You're not going to get GSK moving here just yet.

[MWRIGH17]

I think some, if not all of you are missing the point.
These blocks aren't the science park but the office park. Having said that they are bland beyond description!

[Mark76]

Why do office towers seem to just not work in Leicester?

[braunstone geezer]

cos leicesters leicester, thats the problem.

and how do u build buildings for science? is there a one size fits all for science buildings?

[candida]

I work in the 'science' industry and the majority of offices can be quite bland on the outside, but they usually make a bit of effort on the inside.