Member Article

Warrington’s Business Incubator about to take shape

Contractor ISG has been appointed by Warrington Borough Council to construct its new £8.5 million Business Incubator.

Construction management of the incubator is being led by Faithful and Gould who are part of the Atkins group. Both contracts were awarded by competitive tender using the North West Construction Hub.

The overall project is being managed by Warrington & Co., Warrington’s partnership for growth.

A ‘Meet the Buyer’ event has already taken place organised by Warrington & Co. along with ISG and Faithful and Gould in order to ensure that local construction companies are able to take advantage of supplier opportunities.

The development site on Dallam Lane in central Warrington has now been cleared. Construction works will commence in August with the project scheduled for completion in June 2015.

The new 50,000sq ft business incubator is to be situated at the heart of Warrington Borough Council’s ambitious £190 million Stadium Quarter project. The facility will provide a contemporary, high-quality workplace specifically aimed at providing prestigious accommodation for start-up businesses on flexible lease terms.

The five storey state-of-the-art building will feature a café at ground floor level and offices and research and development facilities on the upper floors.

Its contemporary look will be enhanced by high quality stone and glass elevations and feature a double-height glazed entrance lobby. When the facility is operational it could house up to 100 small businesses.

Funding has come from a £1.7 million European Regional Development Fund grant and £6.7 million investment from Warrington Borough Council’s capital programme.

Works will also soon commence on the construction of the £10 million University Technical College Warrington (UCTW) which will be situated adjacent to the business incubator which will complement the facility.

The Stadium Quarter project was announced by Warrington Borough Council in March 2013. The scheme will connect the bus interchange with the Warrington Wolves’ Halliwell Jones Stadium and create a new, vibrant mixed-use development comprising educational, business, leisure and housing uses.

A phased programme of development over the next decade will create up to 1,000 construction jobs and nearly 4000 new permanent jobs when fully completed in 2024.

Councillor Terry O’Neill, leader of Warrington Borough Council, said: “A very quick build programme is required for the Business Incubator to ensure that it is completed by June next year and we are confident that ISG will deliver.

“As a local authority we are committed to ensuring that as much work as is possible is won by local businesses and It was great to see so many local businesses at the recent Meet the Buyer event.

“This project marks the start of the renaissance of Warrington’s town centre. This is a pivotal moment that will see our town centre transformed and restored to its former vibrancy.

“Within six months not only will this project and UTC Warrington be rising from the ground but the £52 million regeneration of Bridge Street will be on site. These are very exciting times for our town and for the people of Warrington”.

Steve Park, Managing Director of Warrington & Co., Warrington’s partnership for driving growth, said: “Warrington is the number one location in the UK for high growth SME’s. Warrington is also ranked second highest in the UK outside of London for new business start ups. This will be an essential facility for business in the town.

“The initial few years for new business is often crucial to their longer term success and the business incubator will help them in terms of flexible rental terms and will provide a helping hand in terms of business support. We are looking forward to getting started on the construction”.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Simon Malia .