The first phase of a 35ha development that will be a hub for marine enterprise in Plymouth has been given the green light.
Oceansgate, which is on the southern edge of Devonport Dockyard, one of the largest naval dockyards in Europe, will bring businesses together to enable collaboration and further research.
Phase one comprises construction of new office and industrial space totalling 27,751 sq ft to start in early 2017.
JLL and William Lean have been instructed to let the site.
The three phases planned will feature a total of 270,000 sq ft and include additional workspace and waterside facilities including docks and jetties.
Tim Western, head of JLL’s Exeter office, said: “Plymouth’s maritime history stretches back hundreds of years and its docklands are already home to a growing network of scientific, advanced engineering and high-tech manufacturing companies. Oceansgate, however, is going to catapult the city’s capabilities in this sector into a different league by offering workspace and facilities which exactly match the needs of modern marine companies from home and abroad.”
With its location next to luxury yacht manufacturer Princess Yachts International and Babcock Marine – one of the largest marine companies in the UK – and the direct deep water access to the English Channel, Oceansgate is expected to attract a range of core marine and blue-tech businesses.
This includes subsectors such as marine biology, marine engineering, water technology, subsea specialists, marine renewables, vessel building, naval architects and marine finance.
Oceansgate is the first exclusively marine enterprise zone in the country and is a key part of Plymouth’s City Deal.
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