Not the tenants they wanted - Devon

From the Exeter Express and Echo

THE first tenants moved in to the multi-million pound Exeter Science Park this week – but it was not what the developers were expecting.

Several caravans took up temporary residence at the site to the east of the city just off junction 29 of the M5.

Infrastructure, including roads, is already in place and building is hoped to start on the science park later this year. It is expected to be completed by 2013.

Travellers moved on to the site at the end of last week and have remained pending legal proceedings to evict them.

A member of the Exeter Science Park team posted on twitter: "Travellers have moved onto science park.

"Not quite the tenants we were aiming at. Soon to be evicted but a warning to neighbouring landowners."

Legal proceedings were launched straight away to move them on led by the landowners Devon County Council.

A spokesman for the county council said it was seeking an order from the courts to remove the travellers from the site.

As the Echo went to press the spokesman said it was believed that they would be moved on "shortly."

Bosses at the science park said that the situation had been managed "very efficiently" by the council and there had been no incidents or disruption.

Up to 3,000 jobs are expected to be created as the science park grows over the next 20 years. The development is the product of a partnership between Devon County Council, East Devon District Council, Exeter City Council, the Met Office, the Homes and Communities Agency and the University of Exeter.

The 24-hectare site is expected to attract up to £200m of private sector investment in its first 20 years and the £7m centre will provide space for growing businesses to flourish, with specialist support services and a range of flexible accommodation including offices, workshops and laboratories, seminar rooms and a cafe.