A 1 September opening date has been announced for Dock 3 – 5: workspaces and light industrial units attracting high tech and innovative businesses in Space City, Leicester. As the net carbon buildings near completion, 10% of workspaces have been pre-let, to firms including Kazzoo IT Solutions, Somerbys IT and The VoIP Shop. Dock 3 – 5 is now open to applications from other relevant businesses and organisations.
Positioned next to the National Space Centre and just 10 minutes’ cycle and five minutes’ drive from the city centre, Docks 1 and 2 have already proved popular as workspaces, hosting companies including Red Sensors, Reactive Components and Innowise Solutions and Serjeants. Dock is owned and run by Leicester City Council and its new workspaces start from just £15 per sq ft.
Opening in a month and a half, Docks 3 – 5 will offer 46,000 ft of workspace in total, comprising 45 offices and 9 industrial units for light manufacturing. Lease terms are designed to be flexible, from two years, with 3-months’ notice to break.
The Space City area is one of the largest and most connected enterprise zones for space-related activities in the UK, with firms located there including Rolls-Royce, the UK Space Agency and Airbus. To be based at Dock, organisations need to fulfil certain criteria around the downstream space sector, high tech, sustainability and innovation, or support companies working for such organisations.
As Leicestershire’s first net carbon zero workspace, the environmental impact of the development has been at the forefront. There is ample space for bikes and easy walking routes sign posted for tenants and guests. For those who need to drive, electric chargers and carparking are available.
“Offering highly finished offices and industrial units within a sought-after Space City location, we’re very much looking forward to Docks 3 – 5 opening their doors”, comments Crystal Carter, workspace development manager at Dock. “Our first Dock development has not only proved popular, a strong community has also emerged there. The new Docks 3 – 5 should allow us to extend this community further, in a modern, net zero carbon environment.”
Leicester City Council appointed Leicester firm Brackley Property Developments (BPD) as its development partner for the Dock expansion project. Construction work was carried out by county-based Wilten Construction Ltd.
A community dedicated to space and earth observation, Space City Leicester is part of the Loughborough and Leicester Science and Innovation Enterprise Zone. Space City has recently launched an online presence: space-city.co.uk The Space City Leicester partnership includes Space Park Leicester, University of Leicester, National Space Centre, Dock by Leicester City Council, and the Leicester and Leicestershire Business and Skills Partnership (LLBSP).
