Park News
May 2006 - Business Weekly
Chesterford Expansion - 65,000 sq ft of Development Under Way
The Churchmanor Estates Plc and Morley Fund Management, joint developers of Chesterford Research Park, are bringing forward 65,000 sq ft (6,040 sq m) of development at the Park this year. The news follows the announcement of the recent pre-letting to Arakis and earlier decisions to both refurbish the existing Mansion House on the Park and start work on the Emmanuel Laboratory, a speculative 40,000 sq ft (3,720 sq m) shell and core laboratory building.
Martin Sylvester, Director at the Churchmanor Estates Plc comments, "Back in 2000, Chesterford was a 250 acre single corporate research and development facility, comprising some 350,000 sq ft. We have put in place the infrastructure, facilities, management and travel arrangements to be able to bring forward 600,000 sq ft of laboratory and R&D accommodation, specifically designed for biotech and research companies.
"This deal was the first pre-let in the Cambridge biotech cluster since the last pre-letting to Medivir, again at Chesterford, and we are delighted that we have been able to secure Arakis' expansion on the Park. We have taken the decision this year to refurbish the Mansion House into smaller starter units, as we wish to create a complete pipeline of development, to meet the needs of biotech and research companies across the sector."
The speculative Emmanuel Laboratory will provide 41,400 sq ft (3,846 sq m) of shell and core laboratory space over two floors. The building contains a separate plant area on the second floor and has been designed to be split either vertically or horizontally, providing up to 4 separate 10,000 sq ft (929 sq m) independent laboratories if required. External goods delivery stores, cycle parking, car parking and landscaping will also be provided.
Work has started on Building 400, the 15,000 sq ft pre-let to Arakis, a wholly owned subsidiary of Sosei Co. Ltd. Located opposite the Nucleus, the Park's central facilities building; it will provide two floors of offices, plant room and external stores, plus 42 car parking spaces. The building is expected to be completed by February 2007 and will provide a base for the Group's operations in Europe.
The Mansion House units, which are expected to be available from autumn 2006, are particularly suitable for start up R & D companies and larger organisations, looking for flexible lease occupation. Units start at around 200 sq ft (19 sq m), although suites can be combined. The units will be available on simplified leases to include rent, rates, service charges and utilities. Companies will also be able to buy additional services from a menu of options, for example catering and meeting room hire. They will also have access to the unrivalled facilities provided at Chesterford including the gymnasium, health suite, 7 hole par three golf course, shop, restaurant, arboretum, chauffeur driven transport, coffee and social bar.
The 22,000 sq ft (2,044 sq m) Nucleus, Chesterford's central facilities building, opened in 2006 and has proven extremely popular with tenants and visitors alike.
Martin Sylvester comments, "Chesterford's capacity to provide such state-of-the-art facilities and an unrivalled working environment has proved to be a major factor in assisting our tenants in their ability to recruit and retain the best staff. Certainly outstanding support services such as this are key to productivity, helping to create a stimulating environment that meets the lifestyle requirements of the park's community."
As well as playing a central role in terms of fostering a sense of community amongst Chesterford's biotech occupiers - an idea that is integral to the park's ethos - the Nucleus is also home to the Park's management offices, taxi and shuttle bus booking desk and 24-hour manned site security centre.