Innovation Park expansion plans revealed

Around 200 new jobs could be created by the expansion of the Dorset Innovation Park at Winfrith.

Dorset Council has bought around 6 hectares of neighbouring land for future developments at an undisclosed price.

A report to councillors says there is a shortage of sites locally, and regionally, with the purchase representing “an opportunity to accommodate new, larger businesses to the site, alongside the organic growth of existing occupants.”

Several firms on the Park have already submitted planning applications for expansion with a new management team reported to be working hard to attract new business.

In a parallel development consultants, acting for the council, say they believe a hotel on the site could be viable. Previous reports have suggested it might not be.

A report to the shareholders committee next week says that Colliers International real estate services are now likely to be asked to carry out a further investigation to see which operators might be interested.

A additional report is now expected to set out a detailed business case and the financial risks and implications of such an investment for Dorset Council, which owns the site.

In the same report, which councillors will debate next Monday, April 13th, it says the authority has commissioned masterplanning and feasibility work to investigate the potential for employment use of the land to the immediate west of the Innovation Park, which is currently owned and being decommissioned by the Nuclear Decommissioning Agency (NDA).

One idea being considered for the land is for clean energy and employment uses recognising that a “significant decontamination and remediation process” will need to be concluded first.

Councillors will be told that officers from the council and the Innovation Park Company are working jointly with Plymouth City Council on a Local Innovation Partnerships Fund application to help pay for at least some of the project.

The application will seek to establish a multi-domain (land, sea and air) ‘Global Autonomy Cluster’ where autonomous systems move from research and development to to real world deployment. The Innovation Park, BattleLab on the site, and the Lulworth Ranges all feature as significant parts of this bid, and are said to be an example of how Dorset can play a more advanced role within national security capabilities.

Finding more uses for the loss-making BattleLab is seen to be crucial to the Park’s future development, with ShoreLine Services now occupying an area on the first floor of the building generating additional income.

Councillors will be told that “a vibrant events programme” will take place in the Conference Facility on the site this year generating at least £20,000 in income.

Further options for income generation are being considered towards the aim of reducing the annual loss on the building by 50%.

Figures have never been made public detailing the extent of the losses.