New £58 million research centre near Penicuik to provide jobs for 450 bio-scientists
Work on a £58 million state-of-the-art research building is due to start on-site on Monday 1 December 2008 at Easter Bush near Penicuik following formal approval of planning permission by Midlothian Council.
The building has been inspired by the shape of a pair of chromosomes, with coloured glass panels representing the DNA fins which link the office and research laboratory blocks together.
The building, funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, will accommodate around 500 scientists from The Roslin Institute, and the Scottish Agriculture College, incorporating expertise in areas such as genetics, developmental biology, immunology and infectious disease, neuroscience and behaviour and animal sciences.
The new building will provide state of the art facilities in which we can undertake research that will strengthen Scotland’s international reputation as a world leader in animal biosciences. It will make a major contribution to Scotland’s knowledge economy, and will complement the major University of Edinburgh development, the Edinburgh Bioquarter at Little France. It will also provide a focal point for the Easter Bush Research Consortium, bringing together scientists from The Roslin Institute, the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, the Scottish Agricultural College and the Moredun Research Institute, with a view to fostering new ideas and streamlining research on animal diseases and its implications for human health.
This is a marvellous development for Penicuik and the wider Midlothian economy which could truly have world-wide significance in the longer term.
Meanwhile, in the short term it will provide a significant boost to the construction industry while in the medium term will bring hundreds of high-quality jobs to Midlothian. Our economic objective is to create up to 10,000 new jobs over the next 12 years and the new research building is very much part of our 2020 vision for enhancing employment and quality-of-life opportunities for the growing Midlothian population.
The new building, which is due for completion in 2011, forms part of the University of Edinburgh's Easter Bush redevelopment project and will be based opposite a new vet school teaching building and the Hospital for Small Animals.
The design of The Roslin Institute's new home has been warmly welcomed by Architecture Design Scotland (ADS), an organisation set up to inspire better quality of building design.
We are aiming to create a landmark building worthy of the world-wide reputation of The Roslin Institute and are delighted that it has already received such positive recognition.
As well as laboratories and office space, the building incorporates breakout areas and meeting areas to encourage collaboration on scientific research.
The planning permission was granted following an application lodged with Rydens acting on behalf of Roslin Developments, which is commissioning the building construction.