Details of a major investment programme at Wilton Centre have been unveiled.
Nearly £2m is being spent on a new reception, entrance area and main restaurant at the 75-acre site near Redcar. There will also be another new restaurant and collaboration space near the Technical Development Area.
Jeroen Houtzager, director of Trinity Investment Management, which owns Wilton Centre and four other UK science parks, said: “One of the major strengths of this network of parks, which we call The Knowledge Factory, is the relationships between businesses. We have listened to our tenants who said that collaboration and breakout spaces are a major benefit to their staff. At the same time more and more people are working flexibly, so to meet their requirements we are providing a number of hot desks in the new reception area. Flexibility is also evident in the plans for the new main restaurant which, when not catering for occupiers and their visitors, can be turned into a multi-functional events area. He added: There’s been an extremely positive reaction from our occupiers. They already enjoy a number of benefits at Wilton Centre, including the use of a really well-equipped gym, meeting rooms, a lecture theatre, on-site security and abundant parking.”
Claire Morton, the accommodation manager at Wilton Centre said: “We have remained open during COVID and up to 50% of our occupiers have continued to come here in a safe way. The work is due to be finished in early summer and the timing is ideal as the remainder of our tenants, who have been working from home, come back to the office.”
Wilton Centre hosts a number of global multi-national scientific companies and is increasingly becoming a destination for local businesses based on Teesside, due to its great facilities, ample parking and ability to meet flexible space demands for companies on site.
“Businesses providing professional services have recognised the appeal of being here. They’ve got potential clients on their doorstep and they’re right in the heart of one of the UK’s most vibrant industrial areas, which is likely to become even more active in the wake of this month’s budget announcements,” said Stephen Brown, senior partner with commercial property agents Dodds Brown.
