Work starting on £16.5m addition to Space City Leicester

Offices and high-quality manufacturing space will support 270 jobs and complement existing Dock and Dock 2 workspaces.

Work is set to get under way on a £16.5 million addition to the newly created Leicester Space City.

New offices and workshops for high-tech industries are being built on the campus on the northern side of the city which includes the National Space Centre and Space Park Leicester.

The two buildings and a terrace of high-quality manufacturing spaces are being built in Exploration Drive, off Abbey Lane and will complement the existing Dock and Dock 2 workspace hubs which are already home to around 50 businesses. Some 90 per cent of the available workspaces within them are now occupied.

Leicester City Council, which is behind the plans, said new offices will provide space for up to 45 businesses across 43,000 sq ft, while purpose-built industrial units will offer 21,500 sq ft of workspace across nine units. In all they could support around 270 jobs.

Brackley Property Developments has been contracted for the work on the net carbon zero buildings which will be part of the wider Loughborough and Leicester Science and Innovation Enterprise Zone.

The £16.5 million build project will be supported by £13 million from the Government’s Levelling Up fund, as well as £3.5 million from the Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership (LLEP) from Enterprise Zone Retained Business Rates.

Leicester City Mayor Sir Peter Soulsby said: “Space City Leicester has put our city firmly on the map for research, production and manufacture in the space industry.

“We’re proud to build on that momentum by further expanding our innovative Dock workspace hub with three new, low carbon buildings which will help meet demand from businesses keen to locate here from the UK and overseas. The new buildings will also provide valuable grow-on space and much-needed manufacturing facilities for our local talent and high-tech entrepreneurs.”

Neil McGhee, LLEP board member and low carbon champion, said: “This new R&D workspace will support the growth of high-tech businesses and help to create 270 jobs at the heart of Space City Leicester.

“Occupancy rates at existing Dock buildings demonstrate the strong demand for this type of facility and this project will meet that by providing additional quality space which is developed with a clear focus on low carbon.”

Construction is due to begin in April and will take around 12 months.