More science park land is bought

The science park will be run with university help

More land for a new £300m science park in Emerson's Green, South Gloucestershire, has been bought.

The South West Regional Development Agency (RDA) has bought a further 9.3 hectares alongside the current 12 hectares bought in March 2004.

It claims the new development will rival the size and scope of similar centres in Warwick, Cambridge, Oxford and Manchester.

The RDA says the development will bring in 6,000 new jobs to the region.

Ian Thompson, Head of Operations South West RDA, West of England said: "This second phase of investment takes us another step closer to realising the £300m Science Park which has been a hot topic of discussion for over twenty years.

"To date, the RDA investment has been in excess of £20m and over the course of the development of the science park we expect this to increase to over £30m. "