PLANS for a brand new innovation centre in Hampshire have been given the green light with the new facility set to be up and running within a year.

Start is a new venture from two Cambridge-based organisations which have chosen Fareham as the location for its first innovation centre, to be built on Hampshire County Council land at Segensworth East.

The two-acre site will become home to a new 2,600 sq m building with up to 35 companies and 130 people operating from the site.

Managing director Roger Perris said he was delighted to get the first project under way.

"Start is a new brand of flexible accommodation with total business support, and Start Fareham is aiming to be the first of many,'' he said.

"We bring the Cambridge experience to Fareham, and are creating a top quality working environment for all types of growing business. We will provide a range of accommodation including workshop, laboratory space and air conditioned offices on monthly licences for all inclusive packages.

The focus of the building will be a central atrium with caf, exhibition area and meeting rooms. The essential ingredient will be the calibre of business support, financing and marketing opportunities that our track record brings to new and aspirational companies in the area".

Mr Perris said Fareham was ideally placed with the M27 corridor providing easy motorway access in and out of the venture.

The two organisations behind the scheme are St John's Innovation Centre (SJIC) and Tartan. SJIC, owned by St John's College, is renowned for its world class innovation park and for the identification and nurturing of new and high tech businesses. Tartan is a respected design and development group with particular experience in buildings for technology-based uses.

Start will bring the track record of SJIC and its University networks, and by working directly with existing local business support initiatives, confirm the M27 corridor as a place for innovation and entrepreneurship to flourish

The scheme has already received widespread support from the local authorities. County council leader Ken Thornber said Hampshire had been determined to find a use for this site which would benefit new and existing south Hampshire firms, especially those innovatory and technology-based businesses which have the potential to grow quickly and contribute significantly to the local, regional and even the national economy.

Councillor Sen Woodward of Fareham Borough Council said: "We were quick to appreciate the value that Sstart could bring to the economy of the Fareham area. The Council has managed to clear the planning path to enable the scheme to progress and as leader I am delighted that the County Council has made this site available. I look forward to this innovative project getting under way, incubating and supporting new businesses.''