Blog
Cities as crucibles for innovation
One impact of gigabit connectivity and enhanced processing power deriving from the digital revolution is that algorithm-led innovation is increasingly driving the global knowledge economy. This technology requires less physical aggregation than 20th Century...
Retargeting space: converting offices to labs
The current demand for well-located, appropriate lab and office space has contributed to the juxtaposition of an unexpected surplus of vacant commercial space created by the COVID-19 pandemic and growing requirement from life science tenants. This presents an...
The journey to net zero carbon science
The journey to net zero carbon buildings has started and the destination and timescales are set. All buildings in the UK are to be net zero carbon for operational energy by 2050 and all new buildings by 2030. It is estimated that approximately 80% of the 2050 building...
Grassroots R&D is a foundation for building back better
Close-to-market innovation across the UK can drive recovery, say Patrick Bonnett and Steve Yianni in a recent article first published in Research Professional News The Chancellor’s budget in March marked a shift in plans to support economic growth through investment...
A COVID story from the heart of Midlothian
Our lives changed in 2020 in a way no one could have imagined as we faced a world-wide pandemic. On both a global and local scale, the impact has been significant to health, society and the economy for all segments of the population. For many in the Life Sciences...
UKSPA Survey – returning to in-person events – your views are important to us
As the easing of lockdown restrictions continues as part of the government’s four step plan, final restrictions on social contact are potentially set to be lifted on 21 June. As a UKSPA member we are looking for your feedback and input regarding your views...
Repurposing to lab space
One of the trends likely to occur in sci-tech real estate is the re-purposing of commercial spaces like offices, retail and warehouse units, to lab space. With increased demand for this space amongst occupiers including the life sciences and tech sectors it seems...
Build back better
UKSPA Chairman Dr Glenn Crocker MBE considers how the world and the future of science parks will be post covid. The light at the end of the coronavirus tunnel appears to be getting brighter, with the vaccination programme rolling out across Europe. So, it seems...
Welcoming back employees – Creating inviting environments
Whilst some offices have been empty for several months as people have worked from home, many in the science sector or others requiring specialist facilities, have remained on-site with COVID-safe managed access. However, with the government’s announcement of a roadmap...
Trading beyond Brexit: The essentials for your SME tenants
With a majority of businesses struck with unforeseen challenges in the last year – COVID-19, Brexit, redundancies, shattered supply chains, it’s no wonder many SMEs have yet had the opportunity to get their head around the new trading regime with Europe. If you...
The epicentre of the drug industry: how CROs’ breadth, talent, diversity and expertise supported unprecedented sector growth to become the backbone of biopharma
In recent years Contract Research Organisations (CROs) have become the backbone of pharma and biotech research and development (R&D), the go-to source for in-depth know-how and niche expertise no longer available within such organisations. In recent years, the CRO...
Business Support – ‘It’s all part of the service’
As we prepare to get ‘back to business’ post-Covid, many of us realise that we need more than just a desk when it comes to growth and acceleration. The absence of community highlights that there is no substitute for face-to-face communication, but it’s the value of...
The High Bay warehouse, packing and logistics project for AstraZeneca – BES case study
Astra Zeneca’s global packing centre delivers GMP compliant infrastructure for growth capacity AstraZeneca’s Macclesfield, U.K., advanced manufacturing and medicines development campus employs more than 3,000 people and accounts for 1 percent of total U.K. goods...
Is your science park MEES-ready?
Since Phase 1 of the Energy Efficiency (Private Rented Property) (England and Wales) Regulations 2015 came into force back in 2018, landlords and their solicitors have become accustomed to the practice of providing an EPC to a tenant on the grant of a lease, and to...
Biodiversity net gain: the benefits for science and business parks
The introduction of Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) into the planning process will have enormous implications for development on science and business parks and is something that must be considered from the outset of any development, but what is it? Put simply; it’s an...