University of Lincoln's new home for science and innovation

The University of Lincoln says the city will soon become home to some of the finest scientific minds and most innovative high-tech businesses in the UK, thanks to its new ambitious plans for a 10-acre science and innovation park.

Working with the Lincolnshire Co-operative a disused plot of land and buildings on Green Lane (off Tritton Road) will become home to a mix of university and commercial enterprises. The site will also house the university's School of Life Sciences and the proposed new School of Pharmacy in Becor House which will be refurbished.

State-of-the-art laboratories and teaching spaces for disciplines such as biology, biomedical science and bio-veterinary science will be created. In addition it is hoped other businesses and high-tech companies in the fields of pharmaceutical science and biotechnology as well as scientific and industrial development and engineering will be attracted to the development.

The University of Lincoln says co-locating academia and commerce will bring benefits for both the university and the Lincolnshire Co-operative with possible investment in the site by both parties reaching £14 million.

Initial work on the complex will be completed by the end of 2013, with between 1,200 and 1,500 science students based there, along with around 100 academic and research staff.