Countdown begins for expansion of Dock innovation hub at Space City Leicester

WORK is set to begin on an ambitious expansion of an innovative workspace development for high-tech industries at the heart of Space City Leicester.

Leicester City Council will be working with Leicester firm Brackley Property Developments Ltd to expand its existing Dock and Dock 2 workspace hub with two new Dock-style office buildings and a terrace of high-quality manufacturing spaces.

The new offices will provide space for up to 45 businesses across 4,000sqm, with the purpose-built industrial units providing 2,000sqm of workspace across nine units.

A range of energy efficiency measures will mean the new buildings will be net carbon zero in operation. They will feature include roof mounted photovoltaic panels, air source heat pumps, super insulation, low-energy LED lighting and will require no gas heating. Chargers will also be installed for electric vehicles in the new parking area.

The buildings have been designed to complement the look and feel of the original two Dock workspace buildings which they will be built next to.

Once complete, the new buildings will become part of the Dock campus which is managed by the city council. The existing Dock buildings are now home to around 50 businesses, with 90 per cent of the available workspaces now occupied.

The £16.5million project will be supported by £13million from the Government’s Levelling Up fund. The Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership (LLEP) is also providing £3.5million towards the project from Enterprise Zone Retained Business Rates.

Leicester City Mayor Sir Peter Soulsby said: “Space City Leicester has put our city firmly on the map for research, production and manufacture in the space industry.

“We’re proud to build on that momentum by further expanding our innovative Dock workspace hub with three new, low carbon buildings which will help meet demand from businesses keen to locate here from the UK and overseas. The new buildings will also provide valuable grow-on space and much-needed manufacturing facilities for our local talent and high-tech entrepreneurs.”

Neil McGhee, LLEP Board Member and Low Carbon Champion, said: “This new R&D workspace will support the growth of high-tech businesses and help to create 270 jobs at the heart of Space City Leicester.

“Occupancy rates at existing Dock buildings demonstrate the strong demand for this type of facility and this project will meet that by providing additional quality space which is developed with a clear focus on low carbon.”

Construction is due to begin on site in April 2023 and will take around 12 months to complete.

Space City Leicester will create one of the largest and most connected Enterprise Zones for space-related activities in the UK. It will be home to space research, production, manufacture and development as well as non-space related knowledge economy businesses, those working towards decarbonisation, innovative start-ups and established businesses looking for grow on space.

The Space City partnership includes Space Park Leicester, University of Leicester, National Space Centre, Leicester City Council, and the Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership (LLEP). Space City is part of the Loughborough and Leicester Science and Innovation Enterprise Zone.