Extended Science Park in Nottingham will feature brown roofs and public green space

The blueprint partnership behind the Nottingham Science Park project has revealed its plans for its environmentally sustainable development. The Science Park is the first development by blueprint, a regional partnership of public and private sector organisations designed to stimulate social and economic regeneration. blueprint was formed by East Midlands Development Agency, English Partnerships and Morley Fund Management’s Igloo Regeneration Fund in 2005.
 
The £50 million, 12-acre project is an extension to the city’s existing science park opposite The University of Nottingham.
 
It will be one of the country’s first environmentally sustainable business parks – the buildings will have brown roofs to aid insulation and encourage biodiversity and will use carbon neutral fuel. The site’s green spaces, which will be open to the public, are designed to provide a clean and healthy atmosphere, including a boardwalk of giant wooden lilies connecting to the adjacent nature reserve, the university lake and a wildflower meadow.
 
Speaking at the launch, Nick Ebbs said sustainable development was fundamental, not just to this project but to the entire organisation.
 
‘This is the difference that blueprint brings to all that it develops. This is the approach of our private sector investment partners, Igloo, and it is core to what we do,’ he told an audience of 70 property professionals and guests at Nottingham University’s Lakeside Arts Centre. ‘This development shows how blueprint will help to set the standard for change in regeneration and property development, not just in the East Midlands but across the country.’

blueprint began physical reclamation and servicing of the site in 2006 and started 2007 with construction of the first building, a new Automotive Training Academy for Castle College. The two–storey framework for that building is now erected, and the training academy is due to be completed at the end of the year. Work began in May on the second building – No 1 Nottingham Science Park – a 42,000 sq ft exemplar design building for small to medium sized high tech companies wanting anything from 1,000 sq ft to 10,000 sq ft.  It’s aimed at companies who have gone through start up and are ready to grow.
 
Nick Ebbs said: ‘The Science Park development is a good example of how the blueprint model works and how it can engage with other partners – including emda, Nottingham City Council, GNP and Castle College - and we could not have delivered the scheme without them.’