Pfizer’s Sandwich site purchased by private consortium

Pfizer has been able to secure the future of its research facility in Sandwich, Kent, following the sale of the site to a private consortium.

The Discovery Park premises is being acquired following an 18-month process, during which Pfizer worked with local and national government bodies to ensure the facility remains able to support the local life science industry.

A task force set up by the government has launched various schemes to improve the attractiveness of the region as a place to invest, including the introduction of an interest-free business loan programme and the debut of a new marketing campaign to promote the area.

The new Discovery Park Limited consortium will be able to support many of the 1,000 people employed at the site, thus mitigating any major impact of Pfizer's withdrawal.

Paul Wookey, chief executive of Locate in Kent, said: "Now that there is certainty over the ownership of Discovery Park it will strengthen the Kent proposition for companies looking to locate to a science park environment."

Pfizer has its UK headquarters in Tadworth and Maidenhead, and maintains a research and development site in Cambridge, as well as a Havant manufacturing facility.