Edinburgh science park earmarked for expansion

The city's BioQuarter is government priority. Picture; Greg Macvean

Funding for projects there has also been earmarked from the City Deal.

Senior figures from Scottish Enterprise (SE) said in May that they were working to accommodate the “growing pipeline” of inquiries from firms looking to establish operations at the site, which is located at Little France.

Julia Brown, SE senior director for life and chemical sciences, said at the time that supporting Edinburgh BioQuarter was a priority for the Scottish Government.

She said: “Our premium bio-incubator facility, Nine, which was funded through Scottish Enterprise and the UK Department of Business, Innovation and Skills, is now fully occupied.

“Plans are under way to develop the next phase of space, but, in the meantime, we aim to provide quality modular expansion space adjacent to Nine to accommodate the growing pipeline of inquiries from existing companies looking to expand and investors seeking to establish a presence at BioQuarter.”

The new Sick Kids Hospital is also due to open at the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary site in Little France in 2017, which would be boosted significantly by the arrival of a tram line.

Fears that the City Deal cash could be poleaxed by the UK’s impending exit from the EU were rubbished last month.

Junior Scotland Office minister Andrew Dunlop told the Evening News the deal to boost investment in the Capital and the surrounding region was now “more important” than ever.

His comments came after opposition councillors insisted the “deep political instability” caused by the UK’s decision to exit the EU could throw the whole thing into chaos.

Lord Dunlop, who sits on the Tory benches in the House of Lords, said he was “absolutely” offering reassurance the deal would go ahead.