Situated on the fringe of the Lake District and set in 54
hectares of landscaped parkland, Westlakes Science &
Technology Park is
one of the largest Science Parks in the United Kingdom and West
Cumbria's premier location for knowledge based business. There has
been continuous investment at Westlakes since its inception in 1991
and by 2008 the Park had created some 25,000 sq. m. of laboratory
and office space in eleven major buildings hosting 70 companies
employing over 1250 people.
The Science Park has been designated as a strategic development
site in Copeland Borough Council's Structure Plan. On the outskirts
of Whitehaven and within easy reach of all the major facilities and
businesses in West Cumbria - including the nearby Sellafield
nuclear site - Westlakes plays a significant role in the
development of the West Cumbria economy and the provision of skills
for future prosperity.
The Northwest Regional Development Agency has also classified
Westlakes as one of twenty five 'strategic employment sites' in the
North West region, and recognises its importance as a key resource
for attracting inward investment and accommodating indigenous
growing firms. The Science Park has grown rapidly in recent years
and by 2008 its resident organisations included the Nuclear
Decommissioning Authority and the University of Central Lancashire
(UCLan), plus nationally and internationally recognised blue chip
companies such as VT Nuclear Services, AMEC NNC, Aker Kvaerner,
Nuvia, Atkins, CH2MHill, and Nuclear Management Partners, as well
as thriving locally grown businesses like Westlakes Engineering and
React Engineering.
The development of knowledge based companies linked to Higher
Education establishments is considered by the Government to be
crucial to the national economy and the future prosperity of the
UK. The presence of UCLan at Westlakes and the offer of high
quality accommodation, flexible terms, high speed broadband
connectivity, networking and business support, all combine to make
the Science Park an ideal location for businesses to fully exploit
the region's commercial opportunities. Westlakes has been
particularly successful in establishing a positive reputation in
expertise supporting the nuclear industry and especially in
research in the areas of environmental science, genetics,
healthcare, environmental engineering, nuclear technologies and
decommissioning.
UCLan is investing in its well-established Westlakes Research
Institute facilities and this enhanced presence on the campus will
augment the Higher Education academic and research activities in
West Cumbria. This continuing development of the interface between
business and academic Research & Development has the potential
to stimulate innovation and support new business growth.
In addition Manchester University has stated its intention to
locate its Dalton Cumbria Facility on the Science Park in 2010 and
major on the topics of Radiation Sciences and Nuclear
Decommissioning Engineering.
These academic
activities - both undergraduate tuition and post graduate research
- will compliment the primary commercial role of the Science Park
itself. With this potential for future expansion in mind, an
additional 15 hectares of land has been allocated within the
existing development envelope of the 'strategic employment site' to
allow for expansion to 2016 and beyond.
The Science Park has a very attractive "campus" character where
individual buildings and groups of buildings are located in a
landscaped setting. There is an overall landscape management
regime for existing and new developments which provides the context
for the conservation, maintenance and renewal of key landscape
features.
The attractiveness of the Science Park as a working environment
will continue to be enhanced by high standards of design in new
buildings. Copeland Borough Council will encourage buildings
which will continue to make a positive contribution to the overall
appearance.