Biopharmaceuticals group Lonza’s move to Thames Valley Park will be aided by a £30 million Government grant.
The Switzerland-based giant is currently working on plans for its new site, which it expects to be up and running by 2032.
As reported by Thames Tap last November, Lonza, which currently employs more than 1,000 people in Slough, acquired the 12-acre former British Gas site for a massive new lab and office development, expected to be in the region of 400,000 sq ft.
The move will be subsidised by a £30m capital grant contribution from the Life Sciences Innovative Manufacturing Fund (LSIMF), which was approved in May.
A Lonza spokesperson said: “We are currently conducting studies to confirm the plot’s suitability to relocate the site from Slough to Thames Valley Park by 2032. Further detail will be shared in due course, once the plans for the proposed new site are finalised and fully approved.”
The firm says the new biologics centre would cement the UK as a major hub in its global development and manufacturing network and secure its long-term future in the UK life sciences sector.
Stefan Egli, Lonza’s head of mammalian business unit, biologics, said: “We are grateful to the UK Government for its support as we seek to relocate and expand our UK footprint and capability.
“Our biologics site in Slough and its highly-skilled workforce – now comprising more than 1,000 people – has been an integral part of our global business for more than 25 years. During this time, the site has supported both large pharma and small biotech customers in bringing innovative therapies to life for their patients.
“We are pleased to have secured a desirable plot in Thames Valley Park with the opportunity to grow and strengthen Lonza’s operations in the UK, which is a strategically important market for our business.”
Clive Jones, MP for Wokingham, said: “Lonza’s proposed development at Thames Valley Park is excellent news for my new constituency and constituents, the Thames Valley and the UK’s health and life sciences sector.
“It is the culmination of a lot of work involving many, notably Lonza, Wokingham Borough Council, the Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce, and key Government departments including the Department for Business and Trade.
“I have had the opportunity to meet senior Lonza representatives to understand the scale of their plans and ambitions for the new site. I look forward to supporting these exciting plans, which set out a clear and strong ambition for Lonza’s plans in Wokingham and the UK.”
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