New Office Development at Westlakes Science Technology Park Snapped up Ahead of Completion
The future tenant of a major £2.9 million new office development being constructed on Westlakes Science Technology Park, near Whitehaven, has been confirmed as Jacobs. The global professional technical services firm will move into the new 2,000 sqm state-of-the art office space, Pillar House, this Autumn.
The Pillar House office development has been funded by Nuclear Management Partners (NMP) (£2.25m) with the remainder from Britain’s Energy Coast (BEC) property reserves. The development will increase capacity on the Park, adding to the 70 existing organisations that collectively provide more than 1,600 jobs.
BEC who own and operate Westlakes Science Technology Park, started work on the office development in April 2013 to help meet the demand for business premises to support West Cumbria’s growing energy industry.
Since Jacobs already has offices on the Park, the move to Pillar House will free up much-needed space elsewhere on the site to accommodate new firms wishing to locate to what has become the prime location for companies involved in West Cumbria’s nuclear supply chain and other related energy sectors.
Whilst Jacobs intend to lease the building, once complete, BEC aims to sell it to a private investment firm. The sale will release additional funding that can be used by BEC to invest in further beneficial projects in West Cumbria.
Rae Tomlinson, BEC Board Member and Property Sub Committee Chair, said “We are delighted that Pillar House has been snapped up so quickly by Jacobs. It only goes to demonstrate the desire by companies to locate here, which is great for the image of the area and of course great for local jobs. Pillar House is set to become an exemplary project, with the initial funding expected to be more than regained following the building sale, providing further funding for economic projects in West Cumbria.”
Ian Hudson, General Manager of NMP, added: “Pillar House represents major investment to the tune of £2.25m by Nuclear Management Partners to support West Cumbria’s drive towards becoming a Centre for Excellence for Energy. We are not surprised that a tenant has been found for the building already as once complete this will be a state of the art office space. A secure tenancy makes the build even more attractive to businesses wishing to make long term investments in the area. We are looking forward to seeing the additional funds that will be raised through the sale of Pillar House being ploughed back into West Cumbria to facilitate other ventures that support the development of a sustainable economy centred on the energy sector.”
Jacobs has grown its presence in the area in recent years and currently employs over 500 people across West Cumbria.
Conor Doyle, Jacobs Group Vice President, added “This is a long term commitment in the West Cumbria area. Our new and larger premises enable Jacobs to continue to grow our local service provision next to our core customers in the region. We also expect this to yield greater opportunities for our employees and for new recruits, including graduates and apprentices, to enhance and develop their skills.”
In keeping with BEC’s low carbon energy development work, Pillar House will boast the latest green features, including solar panels and air source heat pumps to regulate the inside temperature. The eye-catching two-storey office block will house up to 200 workers and will take the total amount of accommodation on Westlakes Science Technology Park to almost 30,000sqm.
