Edinburgh: BioQuarter
Key Sectors: Commercial/office, Life sciences and biotech, Retail & leisure, Tourism and hospitality
OVERVIEW
BioQuarter: Edinburgh’s Health Innovation District. The partners’ vision is to grow Edinburgh BioQuarter into a new vibrant mixed-use neighbourhood of Edinburgh, centred on a world-leading community of healthcare innovators.
By developing at scale and at pace with a private sector partner we will accelerate solutions to global health challenges. The Future of Healthcare is Here.
DESCRIPTION
Over the last two decades, Edinburgh BioQuarter has played a pivotal role in cultivating world-leading medical research and life sciences innovation that is improving people’s lives around the world. BioQuarter is a leading UK centre of excellence in health and life sciences innovation, with a community of 8,000 people working and studying within its boundary. This 160-acre site – situated just three miles south of Edinburgh’s City Centre – is a melting pot of talent which includes many award winning life sciences businesses based in NINE, its Life Sciences Innovation Centre, at the globally renowned Edinburgh Medical School next to the 900-bed Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh. The site is also home to many of the University of Edinburgh’s world-leading medical research institutes, including the MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine and the Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic. BioQuarter’s public partnership – City of Edinburgh Council, NHS Lothian, Scottish Enterprise and the University of Edinburgh – has already invested over £500m in the site, with a further £300m investment planned in the next five years through partner pipeline projects.
VISION
BioQuarter is developing a masterplan and place-making strategy and is seeking a joint venture partner through a formal OJEU process that commenced in November 2021 to accelerate phased developments of the remaining 64 acres of land. The long-term vision for the site now includes plans for residential housing, more space for research and healthcare innovation, hotel, retail, leisure, and food and drink spaces. The expansion will support an estimated 9,000 new jobs, as well as further boosting the pipeline of successful companies created by BioQuarter. Once completed the new vision could deliver one of the largest single developments in the UK focussed on life sciences innovation, health care delivery, medical research and teaching.
A highly skilled workforce, competitive cost base and hard to beat quality of life make Edinburgh an attractive destination. Located just three miles from Edinburgh’s historic city centre; BioQuarter is located within easy access to international airports, walking and cycling routes, local bus routes, tram services and national rail services.
INVESTMENT REQUIRED
To deliver its global ambitions – with a gross development value (GDV) estimated at over £750m – the BioQuarter Strategy Board intends to seek a joint venture partner to develop the remaining 64 acres at BioQuarter. Interested parties will be invited to take part in a OJEU Competitive Dialogue procurement process, which will include, but is not limited to, the following services:
- Funding
- Commercialisation and knowledge
- Exchange management
- Construction
- Development management
- Hard and soft facilities management
The search for a development partner is currently underway
The search for a development partner has been launched on the Public Contracts Scotland website. To find out more, see https://bit.ly/3bJG9QN.
QUICK FACTS
Location: Edinburgh, Scotland
Promoters: City of Edinburgh Council, NHS Lothian, Scottish Enterprise and the University of Edinburgh
Sector: Mixed Use, Life Sciences and data innovation, commercial, clinical and academic, retail and leisure
Investment Type: JV Partner / Development Finance
Planning status: Supplementary planning guidance approval is being sought for revised outline masterplan
X
Linkedin