PLANS to expand one of the UK’s leading science and innovation campuses have been given the green light.

Sci-Tech Daresbury has received planning permission from Halton Council for the next phase of the development.

Project Violet will see the construction of two buildings creating new jobs at the gateway to the campus on Innovation Way.

It follows a £20 million investment and opening of Techspace One and Two buildings in 2017.

Neal Biddle, group development director of Langtree and board member of the Sci-Tech Daresbury joint venture company, said: “This is excellent news.

“Project Violet will deliver much needed grade A office space in the region and underlines our commitment to building on Sci-Tech Daresbury’s reputation as a place where ambitious businesses can achieve success.

“Last year another 30 businesses relocated to the campus and with increasing demand on space it is critical that we continue to invest in the campus’s infrastructure to help support the economic health of the north west’s economy and that of UK Plc to better compete in global markets.

“Our project partners share this vision and we believe these physical developments will help address a shortfall of space in the region and support the expansion of the wide range of businesses based on technology and innovation already thriving at Sci-Tech Daresbury.”

Work is scheduled to start later this year with the buildings ready for occupation in 12 months’ time.

The buildings will be three storeys high and there will be major landscaping improvements around the site.

Sci-Tech is a world class location for high tech business and leading edge science based companies. It is home to more than 130 science and research companies.

Sci-Tech Daresbury is a private-public joint-venture partnership between developer Langtree, the Science and Technology Facilities Council and Halton Council.

Sci-Tech Daresbury is a private-public joint-venture partnership between developer Langtree, the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) and Halton Borough Council.