Work complete on Liverpool’s £15m Sensor City as scheme welcomes first tenant

Liverpool’s new 25,000 sq ft hub for sensor technology, Sensor City, has welcomed its first tenant after reaching practical completion.

Contractor Kier completed building work on the £15m scheme and handed it over to the Sensor City team, which is now fitting out the interiors.

The centre, located on Russell Street, represents a joint venture between the University of Liverpool and John Moores University.

One of four University Enterprise Zones, Sensor City is designed to create a focal point in the UK for exploration and investment in sensor technology.

The site’s first tenant is Fatigue Management International (FMI), which works to improve vehicle safety through the detection of driver fatigue using sensor technology.

FMI has taken a 344 sq ft suite on the building’s second floor, where it will use cutting-edge in-house facilities to trial its new products and drive innovation.

Ian Thomas, FMI’s managing director, said: “We are very pleased to be the first official tenant in this impressive new building.

“We’ve been cohabiting with the Sensor City team at Liverpool Science Park since January, ahead of the building’s completion, and were eager to continue that relationship.”

He added: “We have already experienced significant growth since working with the university partners at Liverpool Science Park, with our team increasing from two to five and a further two more appointments to be made this year.”

FMI is the company behind ASTiD – an early warning system to make drivers more aware of their own limitations, allowing them to monitor and manage their fatigue risk and cutting the risk of them falling asleep at the wheel.

Speaking further, Ian said: “We’ve seen an explosion in business opportunities in South America, Africa, Eastern Europe and Australia and have implemented a three-year R&D plan to develop cutting-edge, sensor functionality to enhance and diversify our current product range.”

Sensor City’s business development manager, Dr Joanne Phoenix, said: “The practical completion of Sensor City is an exciting milestone, as it allows us to finally open our doors to organisations that are looking to bring their ground-breaking sensor technology ideas to market.

“It has been fantastic to watch FMI succeed and grow over recent months and we are delighted to continue our relationship with the company. We look forward to watching them develop further at Sensor City.”

Sensor City comprises 21 suites available to let, ranging from 140 sq ft to 849 sq ft. The development also offers hot desking and collaborative work space.

Companies at the scheme will have access to laboratories for sensor and Internet of Things (IoT) technology development, as well as technical and business advice.

Joanne Phoenix continued: “Sensor City is all about creating a community of like-minded people who can come together to share ideas and contacts.

“The joint venture partnership with the universities, coupled with its location at the gateway to Liverpool’s Knowledge Quarter (KQ) and its links to a developing ecosystem of companies involved in sensor technologies, makes Sensor City the premier location for anyone serious about the sensor industry.”

Sensor City is forecast to create 1,000 jobs over the next decade and nurture around 300 technology startups.

Property firm Cushman & Wakefield is the agent on Sensor City.

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