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Emerging Innovation Hub in Devon - Arrival of two new major facilities will see Devon emerge as an international innovation hub

Emerging Innovation Hub in Devon

Arrival of two new major facilities will see Devon emerge as an international innovation hub
By locations4business
Devon County Council

With the development of the Exeter Science Park, and the Skypark Business Park, Devon is becoming a significant knowledge economy, and a major contributer to the South West England economy.

Exeter Science Park

One of South West England’s biggest investments, the Exeter Science Park is being delivered by a partnership between Devon County Council, East Devon District Council, Exeter City Council, the University of Exeter, the Met Office, and the South West Regional Development Agency.

The partnership hopes that the Science Park will increase science, engineering and other knowledge-based activities, as well as combine a competitive, scientific environment with high quality of life. The partnership has launched a campaign to promote the region’s international scientific capacity, and has predicted that the new Park will encourage and facilitate knowledge transfer between academia and industry.

Skypark Business Park

The £210 million Skypark Development will offer more than 1.4 million sq ft of office and industrial space, and 30,000 sq ft of space at the St. Modwen Innovation Centre. The development will also comprise ancillary retail development and a hotel. The construction work is due to commence in 2011 and is expected to be a 15-20 year project, creating up to 7,500 new jobs.

Skypark is to be built on 107 acres of the Exeter International Airport site owned by the council, with easy access to the M5 off Junction 29. Devon County Council is managing the site with private sector, Joint Venture Partner St. Modwen, the UK's leading regeneration specialist, who signed the Development Agreement in March 2009.

The site has been identified as a strategic location for large-scale employment development under the Regional Planning Guidelines, and will be a sustainable Business Park. The development is projected to have a significant impact on the wider Exeter and East Devon Growth Point initiative.  It is viewed as a major contributor to the growth of the regional economy. 

 

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