Vision set to Continue Success for Iconic Site

A programme of investment at Discovery Park in Kent looks set to insure its ongoing success as a global centre for pharmaceutical R&D, technology and business.

Since taking over Sandwich-based Discovery Park in November 2016, the new owners have carried out a full operational and strategic review. While honouring a master plan, agreed by Dover District Council in October 2014, the new owners have also started to put their own stamp on its future development.

Toby Hunter, Chief Executive for Discovery Park Ltd, said: “We have plans to invest in our science offer and enhance facilities across the park, starting with Discovery Park House, where work has begun creating new high-spec lab and write up provisions for existing tenants to expand into. We are also adding capacity for new pharmaceutical businesses.”

These improvements include an initial £5m investment in improving science facilities, with 50,000 sq ft of new laboratory space being created and plans in place for a 60,000 sq ft expansion of office space, along with a major revamp of the site’s catering and conferencing offer an improved environment and ambience for on-site networking and collaboration.

With a new focus on collaborative and educational space, plans are drafted for a new auditorium providing tenants and education providers such as the School of Life Sciences at Canterbury Christ Church University with bespoke presentational space for up to 250 people.

Discovery Park prides itself as an international science park attracting companies from around the world, including the regional headquarters of Sydney based Genea Biomedx and US-based generic pharmaceuticals firm Mylan. Concept Life Sciences and original site occupants Pfizer also retain a significant presence on site.

The site has built a reputation for a wider range of smaller R&D companies using world class laboratory facilities for further pioneering research, including a growing cluster of expertise in the field of immunotherapy as well as diagnostics and the search for new strains of antibiotics – to rival anything offered in other UK science clusters.