GSK sets out plans for new £400m life sciences campus
Drug giant Glaxosmithkline (GSK) has this morning unveiled plans for a new £400m life sciences campus in Stevenage.
The FTSE 100 firm said that the new facility could create 5,000 high-skilled jobs over the next decade.
It is looking to sell 33 acres of its existing 92 acre site in Stevenage to a private developer to build the new centre.
GSK said that the move will make the campus one of Europe’s largest ‘clusters’ for biotechnology and other early-stage life science companies.
The company expects to select a development partner later this year, with a view for work to begin on master planning for the new campus in 2022.
Tony Wood, senior vice president, medicinal science & technology atGSK said: “The past 18 months has shown the UK life sciences sector at its best and the UK has recently unveiled an ambitious 10-year vision for the UK life sciences sector.
“Our goal is for Stevenage to emerge as a top destination for medical and scientific research by the end of the decade. We are excited to find a development partner to realise our vision to foster the next generation of world-class scientists and biotechnology firms in Britain.”
The Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult and Stevenage Bioscience Catalyst are both already on the site and have attracted a number of successful start-ups which collectively have raised around £1.6bn of funding.
Councillor Sharon Taylor OBE, leader of Stevenage Borough Council said: “I am deeply proud that Stevenage is home to a world-leading life science cluster and welcome plans for a new life sciences campus.
“This will cement our standing as a leading STEM location within the UK.”