22,000 sq ft of space in Wilton Centre’s Technical Development Area (TDA) has been leased to growing companies breathing new life into used metals and accelerating Teesside’s net zero ambitions.
An iconic research space in Europe’s R&D landscape, Wilton Centre near Redcar is home to 60 businesses, with 12 of these operating in its TDA – a 100,000 sq ft complex of four specialised, industrial buildings that can accommodate chemical pilot plants, development rigs, machine testing and light industrial activity.
Recently moving into the TDA is DEScycle, a deep tech company building the next generation of metals processing infrastructure. The company develops distributed, modular systems that enable metals to be recovered closer to where materials are generated.
DEScycle has taken out a five-year lease on 15,000 sq ft of space to further its goal of deploying a more flexible, capital-efficient approach to metals processing that supports in-country capability and reduces reliance on large, centralised facilities.
Leading global precious metal recycling company Mastermelt has renewed its lease on 4,000 sq ft of space at the Centre. Mastermelt recovers precious metals from industrial waste streams within the chemical, pharmaceutical, advanced manufacturing and low carbon technology industries, helping to support the sustainable circular economy. The company acquired Wilton Centre-based IEX Technologies Ltd., a company specialising in selective adsorbent development and manufacture, in 2024 to fuel the next phase of its growth in complex precious metal recovery technologies for the growing homogenous catalyst market.
Finally, University of Oxford spinout Seloxium, which provides materials and services for the selective recovery of valuable metals from industrial waste to mining, refining and recycling companies, has taken a further 2,500 sq ft of space at the site as it continues its growth trajectory.
Wilton Centre Site Director Steve Duffield commented on the importance of recycled metals for the region: “Metals recycling is vital to Teesside’s economic and environmental transformation, providing cost‑effective materials for manufacturers and creating jobs across logistics, processing and advanced manufacturing. Recycling cuts CO₂ emissions by up to 58% and significantly reduces energy use, supporting the region’s net‑zero goals. As a cornerstone of the region’s emerging circular economy, metals can be endlessly recycled without losing quality, keeping valuable materials in circulation and reducing reliance on volatile global core markets. This strengthens resilience for Teesside’s growing clean‑growth industries such as offshore wind, hydrogen, and low‑carbon manufacturing – all of which benefit from access to lower‑carbon recycled metals.
“With major industrial regeneration underway, recycled metals also support redevelopment of legacy sites by reducing waste and supplying sustainable materials, making the sector a key driver of Teesside’s economic growth, energy transition and long‑term industrial competitiveness.”
Dr Leonidas Howden, Managing Director of DEScycle, commented: “Wilton Centre and the TDA provide an ideal environment for DEScycle’s next phase of growth. The combination of specialist infrastructure, access to technical expertise, and proximity to key industrial partners supports our ambition to scale advanced metals processing systems. As we expand our footprint at Wilton, we’re focused on accelerating the development and commercialisation of processes that recover critical and precious metals more efficiently, helping to strengthen sovereign metals processing capability while supporting the wider transition to a circular economy.”
Dr Steve Colley, Technical Director, IEX Technologies Ltd., part of the Mastermelt Group of companies, said: “IEX Technologies have been operating at the Wilton site since 2017, supplying highly selective adsorbents and scavengers to the pharmaceutical, agrochemical and precious metal recycling sectors. Expanding our footprint at Wilton by a further 4,000 sq. ft reflects both the scale of our ambition and the value we place on the TDA. The specialist infrastructure and collaborative environment enable us to develop innovative recovery technologies that support circular critical minerals strategies. This expansion strengthens our ability to deliver granular solutions to critical problems, which sits at the heart of our approach to metal recovery.”
Claire Morton, Leasing & Assistant Asset Manager at Wilton Centre added: “It is fantastic to see a growing number of innovative businesses scaling up through use of our TDA here at Wilton Centre. The facilities were designed to house many disciplines of development work as well as most aspects of experimental development which can be carried out in a safe and secure environment. Whether a business needs temporary use of the specialist equipment available or is involved in long-term activity, the TDA can accommodate these requirements.”
Following recent planning approval, Pioneer is set to develop almost 150,000 sq ft of new laboratory, technical, manufacturing, and office space at Wilton Centre within the Teesside Freeport boundary.
Occupants of the new Wilton Freeport development will benefit from a suite of government incentives, including reduced Stamp Duty, Business Rates, and National Insurance contributions, offering an attractive proposition for growing science and technology businesses.
For more information, visit www.thepioneergroup.com
