Devon? PROPERTY NEWS Exeter Science Park’s latest project

above: CGI designs of Ada Lovelace Building right: Digging has begun

ADA LOVELACE BUILDING IN NUMBERS 20,000 square feet – size of building 3 – floors 2020 (Nov) – date of completion £5.5 million – funding from the Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership’s (HotSW LEP) Growth Deal Funding £1.1million – funding from East Devon District Council’s Cabinet in conjunction with Devon County Council as part of the Exeter and East Devon Enterprise Zone programme

BUILD ME UP Work on the new Ada Lovelace Building at Exeter Science Park has begun. So, what’s it going to look like and who will benefit?

Named after the 19th century mathematician, work on the Ada Lovelace Building – the 20,000 square foot speculative office and laboratory space – started recently. It’s an ambitious project, with sustainability and a focus on improving research and career opportunities at its core. The building aims to hold a net zero carbon for operational energy as a result of innovative design features, including 44kw solar roof-mounted solar-voltaic panels.

It has been designed specifically for science, technology, engineering, maths and medical (STEMM) businesses and its internal spaces can be configured to suit tenants’ requirements. Workspaces will range from 1,500 to 6,000 square feet.

Karl Tucker, Chair of the HotSW LEP (The Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership), says, “The new Ada Lovelace Building – formally known as the Open Innovation Building – is one of our Growth Deal funded projects designed to boost the economy in key sectors throughout the Heart of the South West.

“Exeter Science Park is a thriving business location and part of our portfolio of Enterprise Zones; and this new facility will be a valuable asset in attracting innovative, knowledge-based companies to our area.” The building has been designed by architects LHC Design and Kensington Taylor, working for NPS South West Property Consultants and is being built by Midas Construction, part of the Midas Group, with the hope of bringing up to 150 jobs to the area. It is due for completion in November 2020.

It’s partly funded by £5.5m from the HotSW LEP Growth Deal Funding. Over the lifetime of the Growth Deal: 2015 – 2021; HotSWLEP estimates the investment will create up to 26,300 new jobs and 16,400 new homes to the south west. The buildings are also partly funded by Devon County Council, East Devon District Council, Exeter City Council, Exeter and East Devon Enterprise Zone, Homes and Communities Agency, and the University of Exeter. Councillor Ian Thomas, East Devon District Council’s portfolio holder for finance and Chair of Exeter and East Devon Enterprise Zone Board says, “This new building will build on the success already being realised at Exeter Science Park, with space in high demand. The Ada Lovelace Building will provide further opportunities for high-quality, high-value jobs in our district.” For more: www.exetersciencepark.co.uk “The building will provide further opportunities for highquality, high-value jobs in our district”

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