RB submits planning application for Centre for Scientific Excellence in Hull

RB, the giant consumer health and hygiene business, has submitted a detailed planning application for its new £105m Centre for Scientific Excellence.

The application for the R&D facility on RB’s Dansom Lane site in Hull, which is the largest single investment in the company’s history, was submitted to Hull City Council this week and signifies a key milestone in the project.

The new Centre for Scientific Excellence, designed to be highly sustainable and energy efficient, will house a new state-of-the art Good Manufacturing Practise (GMP) healthcare development facility.

The facility will feature a range of product development capabilities including analytical and microbiology laboratories plus a stability unit. These will support the creation and testing of cutting-edge innovations focused on meeting consumer’s health needs for leading brands such as Strepsils, Gaviscon and Nurofen.

RB Senior Vice President for Global R&D, Sharon James, said: “I am extremely excited the finalised plans have now been received by Hull City Council; it is a key milestone in the creation of what will be a globally-renowned, health-product research centre. We are confident the council will be impressed with our plans and look forward to a positive dialogue with them going forward.

“The Centre for Scientific Excellence is a truly exciting project, which reconfirms the relevance of Hull to our global R&D operations. State-of-the-art R&D facilities are essential to our growth in consumer health and the development of consumer-preferred innovations, including safe and effective over-the-counter products that allow consumers to better manage their own treatment and wellbeing.”

RB’s investment in Hull also includes a broad range of R&D positions becoming available, which will not only retain current employment, but also to attract global scientific talent to East Yorkshire and provide opportunities for science graduates across the region.

Supported by the Regional Growth Fund, the Centre for Scientific Excellence will also create a large number of new jobs during the construction phase. Once completed it will be one of RB’s largest healthcare development centres and will complement other major R&D facilities in Germany, Italy, India, Thailand and the USA.

Work to prepare the site has already got underway and the facility is expected to be operational in 2018.

Looking to promote your product/service to SME businesses in your region? Find out how Bdaily can help →