Planning Permission for Smart Innovation Hub

The Smart Innovation Hub at Keele University gained planning approval from Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council on 23 May.

The innovation centre will be the first in the UK to bring together a university management school and incubation space for new and developing businesses. The Hub will also create an environment that enables and facilitates the efficient and effective sharing of ideas, knowledge and expertise between businesses, academic researchers, the public sector and consumers to promote innovations in key areas such as social, environmental, health and medical technology.

The three-storey 5,000 sqm building will be located at the entrance to the university as part of the Science and Innovation Park, which is already one of the largest sites of its kind in the UK.

In keeping with Keele University’s green ethos, the facility has been designed with a focus on sustainability resulting in a BREEAM Excellent rating.

BDP is providing architecture, acoustics and landscape architecture for the £17.5m building. Construction is expected to start later this year with completion set for spring 2019.