Novartis detailed plans for its previously announced plans to close its site in Horsham, UK this year following a global review of research locations and a consultation process with associates. The company made the announcement in February.

Novartis says it expects research operations at the site to cease by the end of June 2014, but it is exploring options for the future of the site. “These options could include reusing part of the site for a science or business park, and creating a legacy with the possibility of some highly skilled jobs for the area in the future,” said the company. Novartis has selected PharmaVentures as an advisory firm to assist it in providing expert advice on the feasibility of pursuing those options and to help identify potential partners.

In the meantime, the company will sell the north part of the site, mainly used as the current car park, to the developer Linden Homes. This sale of the land will be complete by September 1, 2014, after which time Linden Homes will be responsible for the land north of Parsonage Road. No work will go ahead on this land until employees have left the Horsham site in June.

Novartis will continue to employ over 2500 people in the UK with manufacturing sites at Grimsby (chemical operations), Liverpool (vaccines) and Dundee (animal health), commercial offices in Surrey, and a team at Sittingbourne, Kent, developing patient diagnostic testing products.

Source: Novartis UK