GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) in Stevenage - Stevenage 75th anniversary magazine | biz4Biz - Magazine - Page 51
GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) in Stevenage
Glaxo
GlaxoSmithKline (GSK)
The history of GlaxoSmithKline (GSK)
and Stevenage can be dated back to 1987
when the plan to acquire the Stevenage
site and build a new R&D centre was
agreed by the board.
Whilst the 92-acre, landscaped site took
9 years to locate, design and build, GSK
have reaffirmed their commitment to
the town by unveiling a plan for one of
Europe’s largest life science campuses in
Stevenage.
Officially opened by the Queen on April
19, 1995, at the height of its construction
the site employed over 3,000 contractors
and was second only to the Channel
Tunnel as the UK’s largest construction
project.
The site was designed to encourage people
to leave their labs and spend time with
colleagues across disciplines to further
spark ideas and the choice of the location
for the new Medicines Research Centre
was crucial as Stevenage offered a large
attractive site with easy access to road, rail
and air connections.
As is the case now, at the time the
decision was made the town had an
excellent reputation for supporting its
local industry, and staff could enjoy the
opportunity of living in the agreeable
environment of North Hertfordshire.
From this development of little more than
30 years ago, GSK has announced that it
has formally started the process of seeking
a development partner to transform land
within the company’s existing Research
& Development site in Stevenage into
one of Europe’s largest ‘clusters’ for
biotechnology and other early-stage life
science companies.
The vision for the new campus has been
developed in partnership with Stevenage
Bioscience Catalyst (SBC), the UK
Government, Stevenage Borough Council
and the Local Enterprise Partnership
(LEP), and would build on the existing
presence of GSK, the Cell and Gene
Therapy Catapult and the SBC on the site.
As part of proposals, GSK is looking to
sell the 33 acres of land, with an aim to
subsequently unlock up to £400 million
in new investment from a private sector
developer to build the new campus and
potentially create up to 5,000 highlyskilled jobs, over the next five to ten
years. The company expects to select
a development partner later this year,
with a view for work to begin on master
planning for the new campus in 2022.
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