Charnwood Campus wins the Regeneration Award at ProCon Leicestershire 2025

Building 28 at Charnwood Campus Science Innovation and Technology Park, has been recognised as the Regeneration Project of the Year at this year’s ProCon Leicestershire Awards 2025. Held at the King Power Stadium in Leicester, the awards celebrate exemplary transformation and lasting impact across the built environment within Leicestershire and Rutland.

The win marks a major milestone not only for Charnwood Campus but also for the wider drive to strengthen the East Midlands’ position as a national hub for life sciences innovation. The 9,417m² of redundant laboratory and office space has been reimagined as a highly specialised research and development facility at the heart of the UK’s first Life Sciences Opportunity Zone. CPW is proud to have acted as lead consultant, collaborating with the campus and the wider project team to deliver comprehensive, sustainable MEP design.

The ProCon Awards remain one of the most anticipated events in the regional construction and property calendar. Now in their twenty-second year, the awards showcase the very best projects, developments, and rising talent across Leicestershire and Rutland, attracting over 600 industry professionals for an evening of celebration and recognition.

With categories spanning residential, non-residential, regeneration, and infrastructure, the ProCon Awards reflect the breadth and quality of work shaping the region. The Regeneration Project of the Year Award, presented biennially, recognises the project judged to have made the most significant contribution to the regeneration of its local area – considering impact, innovation, community value, and long-term legacy.

Our Director and lead consultant on the project, Carl Hubbard, who attended the awards ceremony last week, shared:

“It’s incredible to see so much innovation under one roof, and to celebrate so many truly transformative projects being recognised.

“We are absolutely thrilled that Building 28 has been named the Regeneration Project of the Year. This award reflects the vision, ambition, and collaboration that have driven this redevelopment from day one. Bringing a long-vacant building back into productive use – and doing so in a way that supports world-leading life sciences innovation – is something our team is incredibly proud of. It shows what’s possible when sustainability, technical excellence, and regional growth are placed at the heart of design.”

Originally constructed in 1997 and vacated by AstraZeneca in 2011, Building 28 stood empty for more than a decade. Today, it is regarded as a flagship achievement in science-led regeneration – a high-specification, flexible research and development hub that aligns with national priorities around net zero, innovation, and economic growth. It is set to create 222 direct high-value jobs over the next five years, along with 1,100+ additional jobs across the wider supply chain.

The transformation is central to Charnwood Campus’s vision to grow into a globally competitive life sciences cluster, providing high-quality, sustainable infrastructure that attracts world-leading organisations to the region.

The success of this project is rooted in strong partnerships across local government, industry, and the wider life sciences ecosystem. Funding through the Enterprise Zone Reinvestment Fund played a key role in unlocking the development, supported by a multi-disciplinary team committed to excellence throughout.

Speaking about the win, Commercial and Marketing Director of the Charnwood Campus Science Innovation and Technology Park, Gosia Khrais, said:

“We are honoured to receive the Regeneration Award for Building 28, a project that embodies collaboration, vision and perseverance. What was once a long-vacant, deteriorating facility is now a modern, sustainable life sciences building, creating high-value jobs and reaffirming Charnwood Campus as a UK innovation hub.

“This achievement was possible thanks to the support of Leicestershire County Council, Charnwood Borough Council and the Local Enterprise Partnership, whose endorsement and access to the Enterprise Zone Reinvestment Fund enabled rapid progress on a site empty for over a decade.

“Our thanks to CPW, Pulse and Mellor for their expertise. Building 28 stands as a symbol of what public and private sectors can achieve together – sustainable regeneration that revitalises infrastructure and reignites confidence, innovation and opportunity for the region.”

CPW worked closely with Charnwood Campus, Pulse Consult, Mellor Bromley, and strategic partners including Charnwood Borough Council, Leicestershire County Council, and the LLEP to deliver a transformation that resonates far beyond the campus boundaries. The project reinforces the campus’s potential as a catalyst for growth, strengthens the East Midlands’ position as a national centre for life sciences excellence, and demonstrates how investment, partnership, and forward-thinking design can breathe new life into dormant buildings.

If you’d like to learn more about how CPW supports science, research, and innovation environments, our team would be happy to help. Get in touch to discuss how we can support your next project.