It has recently been revealed that plans for The Island Quarter’s innovative new biosciences facility, designed by CPMG Architects, and featuring 245,000 sq ft of laboratory/office space, have been approved by Nottingham City Council.
This was announced by the developer, The Conygar Investment Company PLC, at UKREiiF, in a joint presentation made with the City Council, which also confirmed that updates to the overall masterplan for the 36-acre site have been revealed. You can view these updates here: www.theislandquarter.com/masterplan
The enhancements to the masterplan have been made following a comprehensive series of engagement events with key community stakeholders and LPA officers, covering topics including sustainability, ecology, massing and transportation, as well as representatives from the city’s universities and members of the public.
The Biosciences application was submitted by Axis to Nottingham City Council on 2 December 2022, and features more than 245,000 sq ft of high quality, flexible research and laboratory space, further enhancing the city’s reputation as the bioscience capital of the UK.
With more than 200 bioscience businesses in the city already, the proposed facility will act as an incubator for new and growing companies, in what is a strategically important sector within Nottingham.
The plans – designed by CPMG Architects – comprise two buildings; a five storey east building and a seven storey west building and the two structures will be connected by a glazed link at upper levels.
Featuring rainwater gardens and medicinal planting, the building’s external landscaping is designed to echo the vision for the wider masterplan, with an ecology-focussed street that links the biosciences phase with the rest of The Island Quarter. This includes raised planters made from natural stone paving blocks, in the style of those found in the heritage buildings to the south – connecting the site’s history with its future.
These latest proposals will continue the development of the northern edge of the 36-acre TIQ site, which also features a 693-bed student accommodation block, due for completion in summer 2024.
Leading Axis Director David Jones (pictured), said:
“Creating a sustainable future drives everything we do at Axis, and large-scale regeneration, underpinned by innovation and research, has never been more important for the UK. So we’re delighted the plans for this ground-breaking facility have been approved, and to continue being a key partner of The Island Quarter project.”
Christopher Ware, property director at Conygar, adds: “Nottingham has a world-renowned reputation as a leading city for innovation, and that is never more the case than in the field of biosciences. Bringing forward this phase of the development will create vital research space for some of the city’s most innovative businesses, and further grow its standing in the bioscience sector.”
Richard Watson, of The Island Quarter project delivery team, said: “This latest phase is another significant step forward for the regeneration of The Island Quarter, bringing the potential for hundreds of new jobs and increasing the footfall across the wider site. With 1 The Island Quarter now fully open for business and the student accommodation set to be ready for the 2024/25 intake, it’s a truly exciting time not just for the project, but for the city as a whole.”
