Pharmaceutical firm appeal against councils planning decision

Pharmaceutical company Wasdall plan to appeal against Swindon Council’s refusal of planning permission for a new science park.

In August 2020, Cllrs voted 10 to 5 to turn down the planning application for the £56m science park, which Wasdall want to build between the A419 and the village of Wanborough.

Residents near the site have also objected to the proposals, stating that it would change the entire character of an area of natural beauty, seriously damaging the local landscape.

In response, Wasdall has said that the facility would safeguard 750 jobs and create hundreds more.

Chairman of Wasdall, Martin Tedham said: ‘The increased Covid-related workload has meant we must focus on securing appropriate premises to accommodate the rapidly growing demand for our pharmaceutical products.

‘We need to build our new facilities as soon as possible and press ahead with our vision of a science park for Swindon. The pandemic has shone a light on the vital role that pharmaceutical and life sciences play in all our lives.

‘The Swindon Science Park will not only create a further 600 jobs from the day Phase 1 opens but will also provide purpose-built, state-of-the-art facilities for partners and others to innovate and collaborate.

‘In the last budget, the UK government pledged £22 billion for research and development by 2025. The combination of local expertise in life sciences and the emerging science park will mean that Swindon will be well-placed to benefit from some of that investment.’

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