Newcastle’s innovation centre for sustainable engineering, ageing and data sciences, Science Central, is to rename to Newcastle Helix.
The site, which is the largest of its kind outside of London, is a partnership between Newcastle University, Newcastle City Council, and Legal & General.
The £350 million flagship project is already home to Newcastle University’s award-winning Urban Sciences Building and The Core, a seven-storey home for knowledge based science and technology SMEs.
Work has now started on the Newcastle Laboratory – labs and offices for scientific companies – while other landmark buildings have been earmarked for the site.
The development has been hailed as “the UK’s biggest urban development site outside London” and is being rebranded in a bid to win investment from around the world.
“The North East of England has been at the forefront of innovation for more than 200 years from Stephenson’s Rocket and Charles Parsons’ invention of the steam turbine, to being granted the world’s first ever licence to offer fertility treatment to mothers affected by mitochondrial diseases,” said Newcastle University Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Chris Day.
“Now, Newcastle Helix is set to be a site of world-leading research and technological advances alongside global businesses that will enable us to write the next chapter in our region’s enviable story of invention and innovation.”
The £350 million flagship project is already home to Newcastle University’s award-winning Urban Sciences Building and The Core, a seven-storey home for knowledge based science and technology SMEs.
“Our ambitious plans for this site continue to progress and as work on the site moves to the next phase we feel it is the right time to rename the site Newcastle Helix,” said Leader of Newcastle City Council, Councillor Nick Forbes.
“The ground-breaking developments that are taking place will firmly position our city as a major national and international hub for scientific research and technology businesses, creating knowledge based jobs for future generations in Newcastle.”