Latest phase of Parkside Office Village full thanks to huge interest from potential tenants

The new phase of Parkside Office Village is 100% let with companies and organisations showing huge enthusiasm for moving onto the University of Essex’s £100m Knowledge Gateway research and technology park.

The latest tenants are leading charity Royal Association for Deaf People and tech company Acumentive, which specialises in real-time asset location and management solutions.

They join Colne Housing and leading global business process outsourcing company MSX International (MSXI), which has relocated its technology arm, Global Technology Services (GTS), from central Colchester to Parkside Office Village.

Registrar Bryn Morris said: “We are thrilled with the level of interest in our latest phase of Parkside Office Village and very pleased to welcome companies which reflect many aspects of our research agenda and educational focus. We look forward to developing strong and lasting relationships with all our new tenants.”

The Knowledge Gateway is an emerging ecosystem of science, technology and digital creative companies based at the University’s Colchester Campus. The Knowledge Gateway allows businesses to benefit from a campus location while also easily connecting with Essex researchers and a rich pool of talented students and graduates.

Ewan Dodds, from Whybrow which acted as joint lettings agents with Fenn Wright, said: ”At a time of great economic uncertainty, the successful letting of this entire phase virtually at practical completion is testament to the high quality of the scheme. This underlines the appeal of Colchester as a major office location and the undoubted draw of the University which recently secured the title of University of the Year at the Times Higher Education (THE) Awards 2018.”

Accessed direct from the A131 the 40–acre Knowledge Gateway site has planning permission for 400,000sq.ft of R&D/office development and forms an integral part of the University’s Colchester Campus.

The latest 16,000sq.ft (1,500sq.m) phase of Parkside Office Village comprises three terraces over ground and first floors with secure parking.

The first phase of Parkside Office Village opened in 2016 and is already occupied by more than 20 companies and organisations including University spinouts and private businesses.

The next ambitious phase for the Knowledge Gateway sees the opening of the 40,000 sq ft £10m Innovation Centre which will be managed by Oxford Innovation, the UK’s largest Innovation Centre operator, and provide a home to more than 50 companies.