Issue - meetings

The Cabinet Member for Regeneration presented a report on the londoneast-uk Business and Technical Park proposal on the former Sanofi site, Rainham Road South, Dagenham.

Sanofi had been working closely with the Council to deliver an employment-led legacy for the site including the retention and reuse of the company’s laboratory and scientific manufacturing facilities.  The facilities would cost tens of millions to build from scratch and offer scope for a wide range of science sectors as well as other industries (e.g. food) that would benefit from controlled conditions.  Their reuse as a multi-occupation science park would secure a much stronger future for skilled jobs in the borough as well as helping change perceptions of the local economy and linking the borough with growth sectors.

The site was one of the five key Borough development sites in the Growth Strategy which recognised its critical role in delivering jobs, businesses and physical regeneration.  Cabinet Members supported the proposal and noted that it could provide up to 1,000 new jobs in the area.

In response to a question from the Cabinet Member for Children’s Social Care, Members were advised that the Council would be seeking to forge relationships and synergies between the site and the local universities.

Cabinet resolved to:

(i)  Confirm the Council’s support for SOG Ltd establishing a science and technology park utilising Sanofi’s science facilities at their Dagenham East plant;

(ii)  Approve the means by which the Council shall support the project as set out in section 3 of the report; and

(iii)  Approve the grant of full discretionary business rate relief for londoneast-uk for two years to assist with early occupation of the site.