Sense of place must inform life sciences sector deal

In response to the Government’s launch of the life sciences and research sector deal today, Localis chief executive Liam Booth-Smith said: “The country is blessed with a world class cluster of life sciences and research, a ‘golden triangle’ located between Oxford, Cambridge and London.

“In spearheading the national industrial strategy as a pioneer sector deal, a sense of place is crucial to maximising the opportunities to grow life sciences - which are a high value adding segment worth £60bn a year to the UK economy.

“Specifically, this means linking up infrastructure to investment in the form of a strategic east-west rail connection across multiple boundaries, as well as ready access to land, rapid planning permission and a highly-skilled labour supply in the aftermath of Brexit.

“If these vital elements of place do not inform the thinking about how the sector deal is to be delivered, we would be missing an important player on the pitch of national revival.”

ENDS

Press enquiries:

Jonathan Werran, Localis
0870 448 1530 / 07967 100328 / jonathan.werran@localis.org.uk

Notes to Editors:

A copy of Localis’ report, ‘The Making of an Industrial Strategy: Taking back control locally’ can be downloaded from:

http://www.localis.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/004_Localis_IndustrialStrategy_AWK_WEB.pdf