British Land has let 48,000 sq ft of lab-enabled space to leading global life science company LGC at The Priestley Building, a highly sustainable re-development located at Surrey Research Park in Guildford.
The letting is one of the largest life sciences deals in the UK this year and takes the building to 58% pre-let, ahead of practical completion later this year.
The Priestley Building will deliver 90,000 sq ft of energy efficient office and lab-enabled space. The development retains and reuses existing materials where possible, helping to achieve an ultra-low embodied carbon figure of below 150 kgco2e/m2. The basebuild development will aim to achieve an EPC rating A as well as BREEAM Excellent.
Efficient operation is achieved through maximising photovoltaic solar roof panels and retrofitting low carbon technology for the all-electric heating and cooling systems. The building will include bike, shower and fitness facilities.
Darren Richards, Head of Real Estate at British Land, said: “We acquired The Priestley Building less than two years ago, and in that time we have rapidly delivered a highly sustainable redevelopment and let a significant amount of lab space to a top life science occupier. This project demonstrates our ability to leverage the BL platform across development, leasing and asset management, to deliver high quality workspace into this supply constrained market.”
Dr Julian Braybrook, Director of the National Laboratories at LGC and UK Government Chemist, said: “LGC’s investment in this purpose-designed facility better enables our scientists to deliver the high-quality, leading-edge measurement research and services expected by our customers, provides a better working environment for our colleagues, and contributes to our sustainability goals.”
The Priestley Building is situated on a 7.8-acre site at the entrance to Surrey Research Park, neighbouring the University of Surrey’s Manor Park Campus and the School of Health Sciences.
It is conveniently located just 10 miles southwest of Junction 10 of the M25 and is two miles from Guildford Train Station, a 30-minute train journey into London Waterloo, with four trains running per hour.
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