Planning permission granted for Tameside College’s ‘Knowledge Mill’ at St Petersfield

One of four applications granted to Ask Developments by Tameside MBC, K1/K2 covers a total 86,300 sq ft, with Tameside College taking 7,000 sq ft for the Knowledge Mill and 114 units within the building.

The Knowledge Mill will be an enterprise and training facility that will provide a place where people and companies can come and develop business ideas in a business creation unit, similar to the enterprise programmes already offered at Ask Development’s scheme at One Central Park. Plans include open plan meeting rooms, dedicated lecture rooms, a reception and office space. There will also be an Enterprise Laboratory where lessons learnt in the classroom could be put in to practice in a safe, supportive environment as people’s businesses get up and running.

Once established, businesses will then be able to rent space in the 114 ‘incubation style’ commercial units. The units will also be available for small existing companies that wish to take space within St Petersfield

The building will provide a place where innovative and entrepreneurial ideas can be fostered and the medium to long term benefits ensure that new and existing companies will choose to remain in Ashton rather than relocating outside of Tameside.

The concept of the Knowledge Mill has been worked on by the College with the local authorities, Ask Developments and One Central Park. The Tameside Business Family has also contributed to this concept, providing mentoring for new entrepreneurs.

John Hughes, Development Director at Ask, said: “The Knowledge Mill at St Petersfield will provide a vehicle for young businesses and new ideas to grow in to fully-fledged businesses, and will make Ashton a centre for innovation and entreneurs. We are delighted to have received planning permission for K1/K2 and are excited about the possibility of harnessing new talent and ideas. We believe the Knowledge Mill adds a new dimension to the development.”

Jenny Worsdale, at Tameside College, said: “After doing a feasibility study, the College discovered that there is a lot of entrepreneurial activity taking place in Tameside but there is a lack of coherence or a focal point. The Knowledge Mill at St Petersfield can be that focal point. Having spent time at Ask Development’s One Central Park, we have seen the success start-up business units have had and we believe we can do the same at St Petersfield.”

Once complete, St Petersfield, which is being delivered through a public/private partnership between Tameside Council, Ask Developments, Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) and English Partnerships, will provide 280,000 sq ft of high quality office space, 140 residential units and retail and leisure amenities totalling 400,000 sq ft.