A NEW train station in Daresbury would be game-changing for the area’s science and technology hub.

Sci-Tech Daresbury and Daresbury Laboratory have welcomed a pledge by re-election seeking Liverpool City Region metro mayor Steve Rotheram.

The Labour politician, who is seeking re-election in the polls on May 2, says the plans mark the biggest expansion to the region’s rail network in decades.

In the first policy pledge of his campaign for a third term, he has announced his intention to build new stations at Daresbury, Carr Mill in St Helens and Woodchurch in Wirral, with work underway to build all three by the end of the decade.

The pledge was welcomed by John Downes, chair of Sci-Tech Daresbury, who said: “A new train station at Daresbury would be fantastic news for our campus.

“We already benefit from excellent connectivity – from being at the heart of the north west’s motorway network, to being located between the region’s two airports.

“But an enhanced rail link would further bolster our offer to current and future campus businesses and staff, and make Sci-Tech Daresbury even more attractive to companies from around the world that are looking to invest in the UK.  

“This is currently a very exciting period for our campus, with our next phase of development coming forward – a £24million speculative development totalling 83,000 square feet.

“Further stages of development will also follow which will see the number of people working on the campus increase from 2,000 to around 10,000 over the next 15 to 20 years.

“The proposed rail link would be another mechanism to help us achieve our goal, improving the access to talent, connectivity to other infrastructure and allowing more partners to access the world class research facilities and expertise at Daresbury Laboratory.” 

 Paul Vernon, head of Daresbury Laboratory, added: “The announcement of a proposed new station for Daresbury is incredibly positive and aligns with our long-standing aspirations.

“Such a development would contribute to the future growth of the campus, enhancing accessibility and inclusivity for the entire region.

“It also underscores our commitment to reducing car journeys and carbon emissions, promoting a more sustainable and environmentally friendly transportation system.”