Environment and design consultancy Sweco has been appointed in a transport planning role for the Edinburgh bioQuarter partnership to prepare the site for future expansion.

The Edinburgh bioQuarter is a life sciences campus at the site of the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Queen’s Medical Research Institute, MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine and as well as a number of life science companies based in Building Nine. The development of the £150m Royal Hospital for Sick Children and Department of Clinical Neurosciences is underway at the site and will open in spring 2018.  

Sweco has worked closely with Edinburgh bioQuarter since 2009 and the latest commission will see the company provide a range of transport consultancy services. 

Brian Currie, programme director, NHS Lothian on behalf of Edinburgh bioQuarter partners, said: “We are happy to be working with Sweco as a partnership on this important programme of works at Edinburgh bioQuarter. This work will help to prepare the site for future expansion whilst also encouraging access to, and promotion of, active travel options for those using the site.”

Sweco’s transport planning team will prepare a feasibility study leading to the design and implementation of a 3.5km active travel corridor, build a microsimulation transport model of Edinburgh bioQuarter, develop a comprehensive travel survey programme covering a number of NHS Lothian sites and coordinate implementation of the travel plan. 

Neil Heggie, technical director at Sweco, said: “We are delighted to be able to provide our expertise on a nationally significant project.  We pride ourselves on being able to deliver outstanding transport consultancy services and we look forward to utilising our significant expertise in developing and implementing strategies and infrastructure. We are particularly proud to be able to continue our longstanding support to the Edinburgh bioQuarter client group.”

The Edinburgh bioQuarter is a partnership between Scottish Enterprise, City of Edinburgh Council, NHS Lothian and the University of Edinburgh.