Edinburgh Napier to push button on £3m R&D centre
This article contains affiliate links. We may earn a small commission on items purchased through this article, but that does not affect our editorial judgement.
The university is taking almost 18,000 square feet of land at the 7Hills business park, a joint venture development between Peveril Securities and Leeds-based property development and asset management company Citivale.
The venture bought the site, which is located on Bankhead Crossway South, close to the city by-pass, earlier this year. It already comprises just over 40,000 sq ft of modern industrial and hybrid unit space, but its owners plan to build a further 82,000 sq ft of multi-let industrial units on the park.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdThe university is paying £8 per sq ft for its new research centre on a ten-year lease. It is due to open in April and will focus on construction innovation, wood science and off-site construction. The investment builds on the recent Queen’s Anniversary Prize for the university’s award-winning applied research into sustainable construction and timber technologies.
Professor Andrea Nolan, vice-chancellor of Edinburgh Napier, said: "This new research facility demonstrates our commitment to the forestry and construction sectors and will build on our excellent industry linkages and international research partnerships."
James Appleton-Metcalfe, managing director of Citivale, said: "Named after the seven hills that surround Edinburgh, 7Hills is a superbly well-located business park with huge potential.
"The decision by Edinburgh Napier University to locate its pioneering £3m low carbon construction research and development facility here is a resounding endorsement of 7Hills and confirms the demand in the Edinburgh city region for top quality business space."
Chris Kirkland of Peveril Securities added: "This is our third investment in Edinburgh. We have completed St Andrew Square in a joint venture with Standard Life and we have planning approval for a mixed-use hotel and student accommodation development at King's Stables Road."