business
development 36
Kent Science Park
“A stunning jewel from which to grow jobs and economic
opportunities,” is how Kent Science Park, near Sittingbourne,
has been described.
Kent Science Park is playing its part
in delivering economic success for
the county and is at the heart of
the government’s Thames Gateway
project, which plans to secure
180,000 new jobs and add £12bn
to the UK economy.
Proposals have been developed for
Kent Science Park, which would
diversify the economy by improving
the transport network, attract new
businesses to the area; improve
skills, employment and education
opportunities; and meet the housing
needs of a growing local workforce
and expanding community.
The masterplan presents a mixeduse
urban extension to South East
Sittingbourne that includes the
expansion of Kent Science Park,
provision of a Southern Relief Road
linking the A2 and M2, a Country
Conservation Park centred on
Highsted Chalk Pits, and the
construction of 4,500 new homes.
Andrew Bull of LaSalle Investment
Management, the company that
manages Kent Science Park,
said: “Such an investment in
infrastructure would be a catalyst for
the creation of thousands of new,
high value, knowledge-based jobs at
the Science Park – jobs and skills
which Swale so badly needs.”
Kent Science Park’s attractiveness to
high tech businesses was given a
boost following the start of work on
the first new building to be built at
the Park in more than a decade. The
new 22,600ft2 Tech Units will provide
premises for new technology tenants,
as well as accommodating the
expansion of existing science-based
businesses on site.
There are also plans for a further two
technology buildings, one of 20,000ft2
and the other of 15,000ft2.
Commenting on the new building
while visiting Kent Science Park, Cllr
Roger Gough, KCC’s Cabinet
Member for Regeneration, said:
“It is great to see this multi-million
pound investment coming out of the
ground, as it will play an important
role in retaining and attracting
science-based jobs in the county.”
Kent Science Park is also playing
its part in helping to improve the
graduate skills base in Swale.
Kent Science Resource Centre
(KSRC) now enables students to
study for a degree in Swale for the
first time ever after the new learning
and training facility opened its doors.
The collaborative project, managed
by the International Institute of
Biotechnology (IIB)/Sittingbourne
Enterprise Hub Ltd (SEHL), offers
a modern Foundation Degree in
Life Science Laboratory Technology
and Bio-Manufacturing.
The Foundation Degree, which is
being delivered by Mid-Kent College
and Canterbury Christ Church
University, is validated by the
University of Kent and with further
support from the University of
Greenwich at Medway.
Contact:
Tel: 01795 411500
www.ksp-uk.com Kent Science Park