The ambitions of the Darwin Centre for Biology and Medicine to develop an International Sabbatical Centre have the potential to realise £3.4 million GDP for the local economy and could create around 45 full-time and 30-35 part time jobs with the total construction and fitting out costs of the centre put at almost £15.5 million.
These were the preliminary findings of Shared Intelligence Ltd., the Cardiff consultants undertaking a feasibility study, funded by EDRF Objective 1, for the Darwin Centre.
The interim report highlights a 10-year development plan that culminates in the construction of a centre, which would include a scientific support aquarium, laboratories, service accommodation, refectories, conference facilities and teaching spaces.
Initial conclusions are that such a centre would make a major contribution towards modernising the local economy and enhance UK international research efforts.
Shared Intelligence propose that the Darwin Centre pursue three main activity streams - research and development, initially in about six sub-sectors of marine biosciences; education and public understanding of science and health; and sabbatical and small-scale visitor facilities attracting international scientists and specialist tourism.
In contrast to a traditional feasibility study the Darwin Board of Directors concurs with Shared Intelligence Ltd. that they modify the objectives of the second stage of their work by preparing a 10-year development plan comprising three phases.
Phase one, lasting up to five years, would entail enlarging the Pembrokeshire Darwin Science Festival and establishing a scientific reputation. Ideally first phase capital grants of £3.2 m plus land costs would be needed followed by further £12.3 million plus land.
Phase one would see that current activities are maintained and developed, that funding is secured for the recruitment of a full-time director and two other key developmental staff members and that immediate planning for expansion of the existing Science Festival takes place with emphasis on an intensive one week programme presenting events in three separate streams: schools, public and business.
Phase two of the plan, which can be expected to last three to four years, is to secure funding and to design a permanent sabbatical centre.
Finally, Phase three relates to the building and operation of the centre with a likely two-year construction phase and the establishment of two more long-term research programmes, so that the centre would be fully operational.
Interested parties, including local and national politicians, environmental organisations and statutory bodies, scientists from Welsh and UK Universities, and people from local businesses and tourism, have been invited to consider this interim report at a consultative workshop in Haverfordwest on September 11.
A summary of the report may be found on the Darwin Centre website http://www.darwincentre.com">www.darwincentre.com