Lakes BioScience welcomes MP’s bid to make Ulverston a centre for life science innovation

A PIONEERING company which is set to develop a state-of-the-art biopharma plant in the UK today welcomed latest moves to ensure Ulverston becomes a centre for life science innovation.

Lakes BioScience, which is based in Ulverston, is in talks over a range of options across the UK for a site for its new biopharma plant – including in Scotland, Wales, and different parts of northern England.

Yesterday in the House of Commons, Barrow and Furness MP Simon Fell asked Prime Minister Boris Johnson if he would back Ulverston being a centre for life sciences.

Speaking at Prime Minister’s Questions, Mr Fell said: “The very best of British science has been on display over the last 18 months, being responsible for the design and the manufacture of many of the vaccines that have kept us safe during this pandemic.

“BEIS’s (Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy) focus on making the UK the best place to practise life sciences and to innovate is therefore welcome, as is their cluster strategy.

“With that in mind would my Right Honourable Friend back Ulverston as being the pioneer place for the cluster strategy to be rolled out enabling high wage and high growth jobs to be based in my constituency of Barrow-in-Furness.”

Mr Johnson replied: “Yes, because we are going to get on with our job of levelling up across the whole of the UK, making sure that every part of this United Kingdom shares in our ambition to be a science superpower which is what we are and what we will be.

“Ulverston has a rich history in the life sciences and we are in regular consultation not just with officials in BEIS, we are in conversations with him (Mr Fell) and with officials in the sector to see what more we can do for further investments in the area.”

Reacting to the exchange at Prime Minister’s Questions, Pat McIver, Lakes BioScience’s chief operating officer, said: “We welcome Simon Fell’s continuing efforts to keep Ulverston’s future as a life sciences destination high on the Government’s agenda.”

Ulverston has been the earmarked location for Lakes BioScience’s plans since it first announced its proposals for a site on land next to a factory owned by GSK which has a 74-year history in the town but which is set to close by 2025.

It has recently emerged, however, that other parts of the UK are now also among options to host Lakes BioScience’s biopharma plant.

With the extra connectivity in other locations – including access to complementary industries and institutions – and with Cumbria so far failing to demonstrate to the Lakes BioScience team that it sees life sciences as a growth industry in the same way as it is viewed nationally, there is a possibility the factory may be built away from Cumbria.

Mr McIver said: “We are from Ulverston, we have the connection with GSK, and we have the skills in the local area so our heart very much remains with the Ulverston option.

“But we have also had discussions in other areas in the north of England, Scotland and Wales which have different advantages and they have made it very clear they are keen to have a facility like ours in those areas. 

“In many ways, given the infrastructure, industry, research and development, universities and other institutions which have already developed in those areas a Lakes BioScience factory would complete the jigsaw.

“Combined with the fact that Cumbria hasn’t yet set out its support for developing life sciences in the county – despite the Government making it clear it is a priority for the UK – there is a real possibility that we may pursue opportunities elsewhere. We are considering all options at the moment.”

Lakes BioScience has the ambition to be one of the leaders in biotechnology and bioprocessing.

It will manufacture antibody therapies at a specially designed and built plant, which will link-up with the UK’s leading network of biopharma research and development organisations as well as learning and training institutions.

Lakes BioScience will deliver benefits for patients and industry partners as well as those who will take up an estimated 250 new highly-skilled jobs at the state-of-the-art factory.

Mr McIver said: “Life sciences has been a strong focus during the pandemic but up until now a lot of the manufacturing has been outside the UK. That focus is now shifting to build that innovation and talent within the UK. 

“Lakes BioScience is going to create a global Contract Development & Manufacturing Organisation (CDMO) which is able to be dynamic and agile in its UK manufacturing capability to meet changing market requirements.”

A recent report in The Times quoted private equity firm Star Capital as saying that a lack of a long-term Government contract for the proposed Lakes Bioscience plant next to GSK in Ulverston had thwarted the deal.

Lakes BioScience has responded by saying it is pursuing private sector supply contracts and also investigating the possibility of regional state support in areas across the UK.

Last year, when responding to a previous question by Mr Fell at Prime Minister’s Questions, Mr Johnson told the Commons: “I believe that bioscience is one of the great growth areas for this country in the future.

“I am determined that Barrow-in-Furness should take part in that boom along with everywhere else, as well as other high technologies.”