Union leaders are set to meet with major pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca, regarding the movement of a large R&D site.

The company is seeking to move the site from its current Cheshire location to Cambridge including the migration of nearly 2,000 jobs, by 2016.

The move comes as AstraZeneca seeks to reduce costs as the company faces the expiry of several drugs patients and a lack of new drugs in its product pipeline.

The proposed Cambridge location is designed to place the company on a level setting with global competitors.

Unions have expressed concern regarding the impact of such a move to the economy in the North-West, with union Unite's regional officer, Gary Owen, saying how: “The company is creating a skills crisis for the local economy”.

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