£200m growth plan for Norwich Research Park kicked off in style

Vengrove - a pan-European investment and advisory firm - plans to invest more than £200m over the next decade to achieve this.

A key plank in the strategy has just been laid with the official launch of the new GB1 scale-up lab and offices scheme under construction at the Park; designed to house high growth companies, the premises is being called ‘Hawkmoth Building’ to echo the pollinator reputation of the celebrated insect.

A ground breaking ceremony was held yesterday: The building has been under construction since September 2025 and is being funded by the Research Park’s real estate investment manager partner Vengrove, Norfolk County Council and South Norfolk Council. It is the first phase of a 10-year investment partnership.

When complete, it will provide 63,000 sq ft of laboratory and office accommodation designed to support growing companies in the agri-food, health and environment sectors, attracted by the Park’s specialist talent and research facilities.

It is due for completion in January 2027, ready for tenant fit-out and has already gained recognition being highly commended in the Future Project of the Year 2025 category at the East of England Property Awards.

Ben Goldsborough, MP for South Norfolk, the constituency in which Norwich Research Park sits, attended the groundbreaking ceremony and said: “Science and innovation are at the heart of everything South Norfolk does. It was a huge honour to break ground today on the Hawkmoth Building and I will continue to bang the drum for the amazing research that is being undertaken by South Norfolk's scientists.

"I know the Government is determined to put rocket boosters underneath our research and development sector. The expansion of the Norwich Research Park shows that the global scientific community have confidence in this ambition."

Roz Bird, CEO of Anglia Innovation Partnership, the campus management organisation for Norwich Research Park, said: “The construction of the new Hawkmoth Building is an important milestone for Norwich Research Park. It will enable successful companies working in agri-food, health, nutrition and the environment to stay and grow at the campus.

“We are very good at attracting and nurturing start-ups and we will now be able to support these businesses as they succeed and grow. This will ensure that we maximise the economic impact of the publicly-funded research we receive and continue to make a significant contribution to the local economy.”

Jonathan Barnard, Head of Development and Asset Management, Anglia Innovation Partnership, said the Hawkmoth Building would provide a range of lab and office suites from 3,250 sq ft to 19,000 sq ft, per floor, available to let.

He added: “The building is aimed at growing companies and the design is flexible to allow for a company’s bespoke fit-out. With 100,000 sq. ft of start-up space already under management, which is 90 per cent let, the Hawkmoth Building represents an important next step for the campus. It means that companies will be able to stay and grow here at Norwich Research Park when they outgrow the start-up space.”