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LATEST NEWSInner City Solutions has recently completed an interim evaluation of the Gordon Manley Building, part of the third phase of the Lancaster Environment Centre (LEC) capital development based at Lancaster University. The project was commissioned by the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA).
The LEC is one of the largest European centres for training, research and innovation in environmental science, providing a base from which academic departments, commercial operations, government scientists, and other agencies can focus their environmental research.
The third phase of development focused on bringing together the knowledge transfer activities of the LEC. It was funded by NWDA, ERDF and Lancaster University investments and saw the development of 1,500m2 of accommodation, providing workspace for new ventures, attracting SMEs and larger corporations to co-locate within LEC facilities and enabling students to work on commercial projects and applied research. Over the first year of delivery, the project assisted over 80 businesses and supported nearly 40 students.
The evaluation involved an extensive consultation programme with project stakeholders and beneficiaries as well as a comprehensive secondary review. The findings demonstrate that the project is on track to meet its long-term targets and is already showing an early impact in contributing to the growth of a key sector within the North West economy.
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