This follows discussions with West Suffolk Council and the Combined Authority / Business Board LEP.
The new 30,000 sq ft four-storey EpiCentre development that was previously planned for the centre of Haverhill Research Park will now be located on plot 100 at the gateway to the town from the north-west adjacent to the Spirit of Enterprise roundabout, where it will have maximum visual impact, creating a prominent ‘landmark’ building at the entrance into Haverhill.
Replicating the previous permissions, the development will comprise high specification offices and dry R&D accommodation in a range of sizes from 170 – 7,000 sq ft, together with conference and meetings rooms, training facilities and a ‘work-hub’ area for shared working. As before there will be a coffee shop / café with an external break out area.
It is planned that the EpiCentre will offer early-stage companies tailored support services designed to boost the growth of their businesses ranging from cost –effective, flexible, managed space to business advice, integrated telecoms, broadband internet access and networking facilities.
JAYNIC has applied to the Combined Authority / Business Board LEP for Capital funding grant towards the cost of building the EpiCentre. West Suffolk voted to lend JAYNIC the remaining money, subject to the grant being available.
Additional land adjacent to the Innovation Centre site will be safeguarded for employment use should any viable commercial interest arise in the future.
“We are pleased that West Suffolk Council has supported us again in our decision to move the landmark EpiCentre innovation scheme to a more prominent location at the gateway to Haverhill and this should prove attractive for start-up and growing companies.
We have demonstrated our good faith and commitment to the project by speculatively obtaining planning permission. However, whilst it is our greatest ambition to finally get the EpiCentre built, the last piece in the jigsaw is the financial support of the LEP. It is expected that the LEP will have formally determined its position by the end of May 2019.”
Nic Rumsey
Managing Director – JAYNIC
