Scottish Enterprise unlocks commercial development at Edinburgh BioQuarter

Economic development agency, Scottish Enterprise has completed complex negotiations to expand the flagship Edinburgh BioQuarter and unlock investment for the wider area’s regeneration.

Several complex property transactions and over 100 legal contracts involving 19 public and private organisations have been concluded which will make the delivery of a private hospital, care home and care village at Edmonstone possible.

The deals now concluded will also pave the way for development of over 1000 homes at Greendykes and will make possible a new Public Transport Link between the BioQuarter and Craigmillar, the Niddrie Burn Restoration Scheme and associated landscape improvements in the area over the next two years.

Lena Wilson, chief executive, Scottish Enterprise, said: “This is another significant step forward for the Edinburgh Bioquarter and surrounding area.  The 62 acres of land acquired by Scottish Enterprise will help to unlock the potential of the Edinburgh Bioquarter and the South East wedge in Edinburgh bringing with it new jobs and investment for the Scottish economy.”

This announcement follows the recent soil cutting event of the new £24 million BioIncubator by Nicola Sturgeon, Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing.   The 8,500 sq m facility will sit alongside the University of Edinburgh’s Scottish Centre for Regeneration and will provide a specialist mix of office and laboratory accommodation for a range of specialist life sciences companies.

The £600 million Edinburgh Bioquarter project is a collaboration between Scottish Enterprise, the University of Edinburgh, NHS Lothian, City of Edinburgh Council and Alexandria Real Estate Equities Inc.  It aims to position Edinburgh as one of the world’s top ten hubs for life sciences research and development, a sector which is estimated to be worth £801 billion globally and contributes £3.1 billion to the Scottish economy annually.