'It will act as a key driver' - Huge flagship building planned for Samlesbury Enterprise Zone

A major expansion to the Samlesbury’s Enterprise Zone has taken a step closer to reality.

Officially called the The Lancashire Advanced Engineering and Manufacturing (AEM) Enterprise Zone, the site near BAE Systems is a premier, multi-site Enterprise Zone designed to attract high-value, high-tech businesses, particularly in aerospace, defence, and advanced manufacturing.

In February, Lancashire County Council (LCC) revealed it was designing a new Innovation Hub for the site, and now it has given Prior Notification of Development to South Ribble Borough Council (SRBC) for the £13m centre.

The proposal is for a 30,000sqft two and three-floor Innovation Hub with associated plant, landscaping, access, car parking, drainage and lighting.

The building is centrally located within the Enterprise Zone and fronts the main spine road, Sir Frederick Page Way, with entrances into the building on both front and rear elevations. Vehicular access is from the existing Roy Chadwick Way.

Externally the proposal also includes an amenity area, cycle pathways and storage, refuse area and substation.

A planning statement says: “The proposal supports the purposes of the Enterprise Zone and will be a flagship building for the site providing flexible office, collaboration and lab space to support the growth of key sectors relating to cyber, cyber security, sci-tech, robotics and advanced engineering and manufacturing. It will act as a key driver in developing a strong cyber, sci-tech and Aem ecosystem across Lancashire and the wider region.”