Waters to build new facility in Wilmslow

Waters has announced plans to construct a new base for its UK mass spectrometry operations in Wilmslow, Cheshire.

The life sciences company has signed a land-purchase agreement with the Royal Bank of Scotland to build the facility at the 37-acre Stamford Lodge location, with consultations with local residents and authorities set to be held.

Once complete, the headquarters will bring together Waters' operations from four existing Manchester and Altrincham locations and will feature manufacturing, research and development and customer demonstration capabilities.

A deal to purchase the land will be dependent on Waters receiving permission from Cheshire East Council, with the company estimating that it will open the site in 2013.

Brian Smith, vice-president of mass spectrometry business operations at Waters, said: "The new Waters mass spectrometry headquarters will be designed to accelerate the rate of innovation with increased access for the world's scientific thought-leaders."

Last week, the firm launched its new Biopharmaceutical System Solution, which combines a number of different features, including mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography.