Project Newton, Mid Sussex's planned 'next generation' Science and Technology Park passed a new milestone last week in its ambition for the 49-hectare site to provide 100,000m2 of innovation-led employment space, generating 2,500 new jobs.
Delegates at the Real Estate Live conference were the first to hear that the Park's site allocation on the A23/M23 road corridor had been approved by a government planning inspector, giving the green light to Project Newton.
Suzanne Holloway, Partner, Vail Williams explained that the concept of a Science and Technology Park for Mid Sussex dated back to 2014 when the Local Enterprise Partnership Coast to Capital identified the need and broad location, and since then the Project Newton team had been working with a number of key stakeholders to bring forward the site.
She said the site was now looking to progress with its next steps following the successful allocation, and gave a brief overview of the site concept, which was for the Park to support innovation and knowledge-based industries, adding that the Park was on an agile 10-year plan which would enable it to flex in lines with market demand and scientific changes.
"There is a cluster of opportunities for us to be able to build on the Northern Arc employment designation and the Hub. Other Science Parks areas don't always have residents so close by so this is really helpful for us when we are looking at economic growth." She added that the Project Newton team were already in discussion with many partners including academic institutions in terms of the opportunities the Park could create; working with other partners on policy, regeneration and further opportunities as well as working with existing and new businesses in terms of the opportunities created by the area.
"The Park is in a very fortunate position," Suzanne told delegates. "It has 49 hectares which gives the project a unique critical mass and scale within the region, enabling it to have a high-quality environment, purpose-built facilities and illustrative layouts show the potential for a landscape led development with a 40% green space.
"The scheme sits alongside the existing Bolney Industrial estate and is connected to the Northern Arc to the east.
"The job opportunities are significant with 2500-4500 potential jobs based on the 1.3million sq. ft of commercial floorspace and 80,000 sq. ft of ancillary support and amenity facilities proposed. – there are also 40-50,000 people within cycling distance and 1,500 within walking distance, so connectivity is important, and we are working closely with West Sussex County Council and other local authorities in terms of how the Park will connect with mobility and activity work linked to the existing infrastructure provided by the Growth Programme.
"One of key themes is working with all the local stakeholders and key partners to make sure the Park is a successful part of the whole growth programme."
James Chaffer CEO of UKSPA, the UK's Science Park Association, said he was interested in how Project Newton was rising to the challenge of ensuring it would provide facilities and open spaces which would draw people to a campus in the modern world of hybrid working, creating a healthy way of working.