Rydon has been awarded an innovation centre contract for Kent Medical Campus, this will bring together businesses and organisations involved in finding solutions to healthcare issues and scientific research
Maidstone Borough Council has awarded Rydon the contract for the construction of a new facility aspiring to be the county’s first Academic, Health and Science Centre focused environment.
The Maidstone innovation centre is part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund 2014-20.
The four-storey, 37,000ft2 building, designed by Bond Bryan Architects will provide high quality flexible office, hot desking and meeting space, conference facilities and business support for small and medium-sized enterprises working in the life science, healthcare and med-tech sectors.
Once complete, the innovation centre is expected to support around 270 jobs and will generate a further £120m of additional gross value added to the local economy over the next decade.
The innovation centre is due for completion in 2021. Once fully developed, it will provide up to 4,000 jobs.
The 30-acre landscaped business park has permission to develop 98,000m2 (1,000,000 ft2) of flexible and innovative commercial space, including A1, B1, C2 and D1 use classes.
The North Kent Enterprise Zone comprises five highly-accessible business sites across three locations in north Kent – Maidstone, Ebbsfleet and Medway, all in close proximity to London, and offers unique investment opportunities for businesses looking to expand quickly and sustainably.
Mark Mitchener, managing director of Rydon Construction, commented: “This is an exciting opportunity to use our experience to deliver the next phase of the Kent Medical Campus vision, driving further investment to the North Kent Enterprise Zone and beyond.
“We look forward to working alongside Maidstone Borough Council and Campus partners to deliver the scheme to high quality, whilst benefitting the local economy and supply chain.”
