Business development: Director of the upcoming science park explains to The Lincolnite how the project will impact the local economy and its offering for businesses.
Work to trasform derelict buildings and unused land in the west of Lincoln to become a science and innovation park is moving fast, with the first offices ready for use in August.
As previously reported, work began on the £14 million Lincoln Science and Innovation Park, the result of a partnership between Lincolnshire Co-op and the University of Lincoln, in August 2013.
The 80 hectare site includes Minster House and Becor House, now called Joseph Banks Laboratories, plus Charlotte Scott House and land nearby, which will be developed in future phases of the park.
Giving a tour to The Lincolnite, director of the park Tom Blount explained that despite a link with the university, the park puts an emphasis on encouraging business into the area.
He explained the Think Tank, which already exists on the site, made a good anchor for the new park, which uses the close proximity of the university, its researchers and businesses nearby to hopefully create even more innovation across the county, describing the project as an “engine for prosperity”.
As well as the School of Pharmacy, School of Chemistry and animal behaviour team making use of facilities, the park will support a range of businesses, from engineering to electronics and other technology and science areas.
The new building has commercial and academic laboratories, meeting areas, offices and relaxation areas.
Minster House will act as a home to the animal behaviour team, with state of the art facilities built for the animals with welfare in mind.
The recently acquired Charlotte Scott House will play home to both commercial units and temporary space for the School of Physics.
Businesses will have access to state of the art facilities, including superfast broadband, which Tom Blount hopes will be ultraband speed — a first for Lincoln.
The park is also keen to be good neighbours to the industrial area surrounding it along Beevor Street and Green Lane, providing them with support.
To open up Think Tank and businesses based in other areas of the park, Green Lane will be transformed completely with a pedestrianised zone, featuring a large green space and cafe.
This lawn will then be used for a variety of events as well as relaxation space, such as BBQs, music events or meetings, where businesses, academics and even students and residents can integrate and develop relationships.
Old to new
While adding modern facilities to the site, the science park aims to preserve the old industrial buildings in the area, some of which date back to the early 1900s.
The Joseph Banks Laboratories building was started in 1936, but was not completed until 1952 due to World War II. Despite this, the area still went on to become world renowned for engineering.
“50 years ago, this was the heart of engineering, but the story of this site has been sad over the last couple of years as it’s been in decline,” explained Tom Blount.
“We want to redevelop the site for the next century, with a hub for highly skilled, new jobs — not just through the university but through local business too.
“We want to make it a site for businesses where academia is welcome, rather than vice versa, which happens on other parts of the university campus.”
The original buildings on site have been completely gutted of the old offices and meeting rooms and replaced with the new facilities, but the outer shell and core are now complete, which cost £8 million.
The next stage is to work on the fittings, costing around £7 million, in time for September, when the first students will be able to use the facilities.
Businesses meanwhile can expect to use the offices on the park from August.
Despite large alterations to the site, Tom Blount is gathering a range of media from archives about the site, and will host an exhibition event for residents, in which they can share opinions of the project as well as memories from working on site in the past.
Strong support
While residents’ support in still a work in progress, the project has been welcomed by a range of local business and councils.
The City of Lincoln Council includes it within its strategic masterplan for the city, due to its potential to create jobs.
Tom Blount believes that the park could create up to 600 new and existing jobs over the next five years through just phase one of the development.
Finally, the park waits to reinvest money made into Lincoln and Lincolnshire economy, through funding business support projects to setting up business funding pots and holding “meet the buyer” style events.
Later in the year, the park will host an innovation conference aimed at local businesses of all sizes.
To learn more about the upcoming events, or if you’re a science or technology business interested in office space or partnerships, contact Director Tom Blount, at [email protected]
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Investigations into how a nut factory in Heckington caught fire on Thursday have finished, though how it all began is still unclear.
Ten fire crews from across Lincolnshire attended the blaze at The Roasting Company on Station Road at around 11.30am on Thursday morning, and the last crews didn’t leave the scene until almost 1am on Friday.
Everyone inside the building was accounted for and declared safe, but due to huge smoke clouds, residents were asked to keep their doors and windows shut.
Nobody was injured in the incident. | Photo: BBC Radio Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire Fire & Rescue have now confirmed that the conclusion of their investigation found it to be accidental, but the exact reason is still undetermined.
Firefighters working to put out the blaze. | Photo: Shane Smith
The flames had gone through the roof of the steel-framed building, and people nearby to the incident said peanut skins were raining down from the sky when the factory caught fire.
Neighbouring buildings were left unscathed after the quick response from firefighters, who prevented the gulf of flames from spreading beyond the factory.
The fire has now been put out. | Photo: BBC Radio Lincolnshire
Crews from Sleaford, Donington, Kirton, Brant Broughton, Spalding, Lincoln South, Bourne, Woodhall Spa, Holbeach, Market Rasen and Boston took care of the flames.
The Lincolnite contacted The Roasting Company for a statement, but there has been no reply at the time of publication.
The number of coronavirus patients in Greater Lincolnshire hospitals has reduced by nearly 24% in less than three weeks.
The figure had already dropped by a third on February 16 when there were 170 patients with coronavirus being treated at hospitals across the county.
In more positive news for Greater Lincolnshire, the figure has dropped further by almost a quarter as of Friday, March 5
Across the four hospital trusts in the county there are currently 130 patients, which is a reduction of the 170 figure from February 16.
United Lincolnshire NHS Trust (ULHT) had 95 COVID positive patients on February 16 and this number has now fallen to 76.
There were 44 patients with coronavirus at Lincoln County Hospital as of Friday morning with a further 29 at Boston Pilgrim. The figure has risen slightly by a further three across the two hospitals by later in the day.
As of Friday morning, the Northern Lincolnshire Goole NHS Foundation Trust (NLaG) has 50 patients with coronavirus, a reduction of eight from the previous data.
Of these patients, 22 are at Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital in Grimsby and 28 at Scunthorpe General Hospital. One of the 50 patients is in ICU at Scunthorpe.
Lincolnshire Community Health Services NHS Trust currently has four COVID-19 positive inpatients across its community hospital sites. This is a reduction from the seven patients at the trust’s sites on February 16.
The Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust has been boosted by the news that it currently has no patients with coronavirus within the trust, which is a reduction of 10 from the previous data.
Martin Fahy, Director of Nursing and Quality at NHS Lincolnshire CCG, told BBC Radio Lincolnshire that the bed occupancy rate at ULHT’s hospitals has now improved from 100% to around 70%, which he said is an “improving position”.
Palm oil which can be fatally toxic to dogs was found on Cleethorpes beach behind Thorpe Park on Thursday.
At least three large lumps of the substance washed up on the beach.
Cleethorpes Beach safety team said on Friday, March 5 that it has since had reports of possible palm oil in different spots along the whole beach.
Palm oil can be fatally toxic to dogs. | Photo: Cleethorpes Beach Safety
The team will be out checking on Friday and removing any that it finds, so people are being advise to be extra cautious.
In a video about the discovery resort manager Scott Snowden said the palm oil can be hazardous to dogs if ingested, so they need to be kept on leads.
He added that anyone finding any palm oil must not touch it and needs to ring the resort office on 01472 323356 or contact the Facebook page.
HM Coastguard Donna Nook Rescue Team added: “It’s not unusual for anything washed up on the beach at Cleethorpes to be present further down the coast too. Please report any sightings to the coastguard.”
A spokesperson for North East Lincolnshire Council said: “We’d ask dog owners to be vigilant and keep their pets on leads while walking along Cleethorpes beach after palm oil has washed up on the sand. While not dangerous to humans, it can be toxic to dogs.
“Palm oil can become contaminated with fuel waste and other toxins and, in solid form, can be extremely harmful to dogs and wildlife. When washed up on shorelines, the waxy white substance can lead to boulder-sized chunks emitting a smell of diesel which is attractive to animals.
“If you spot something you believe to be palm oil, please contact the beach safety team on 01472 323356 who will immediately collect and dispose of it properly.
“If owners suspect their pet has eaten the oil, they are advised to contact a vet immediately.”