Hi-tech Leicester science park plans to go ahead

More than 600 jobs are to be created at a new science park in Leicester.

A £5.2m project to turn wasteland next to the Space Centre into hi-tech workspaces for more than 50 new companies has been given the go-ahead.

About 25,000 sq ft of business space will be created in the Leicester Science Park Innovation Workplace project, funded by the government.

It is hoped the park will create specialist jobs for people affected by the closure of Astra Zeneca's site.

The pharmaceutical firm announced earlier this month its research facility on the outskirts of Loughborough will close, with the loss of 1,200 jobs.

The final designs for the park are to be submitted for approval in May.

Space telescope parts firm Zeeko is the first to sign up to move there, from its current Coalville site.

The project replaces previous plans for a science park in the Abbey Meadows area of the city.