ZENECA RESEARCH BASE TO BE AXED – 1600 JOBS TO GO

In what could prove to be a massive blow to Macclesfield, local pharmaceuticals giant AstraZeneca is to axe its research base Alderley Park and move 1,600 jobs.



In a stock market statement the firm said most of the jobs will go to Cambridge while some will move to a Macclesfield manufacturing facility or overseas sites.



Around 700 jobs will stay at Alderley Park, near Alderley Edge, although these will not be involved in research and development.



It said: “Under the proposals, research and development work will no longer be carried out at Alderley Park…



“At least 700 non-R&D roles are expected to remain at Alderley Park. AstraZeneca is committed to exploring all options to ensure that Alderley Park has a successful future.”

Alderley Park was bought by ICI in 1950 to create a research site for its pharmaceuticals business and to attract world class scientists. It was here that Professor Sir James Black discovered beta blockers, and leading cancer research has been carried out.

Last year AstraZeneca secured