Major Expansion in Cambridgeshire

A major expansion of a South Cambridgeshire research campus has been recommended to go ahead. The plans, submitted by Urban and Civic, are the first phase in transforming the Wellcome Genome Campus in Hinxton.

Outline planning permission for the project was granted in 2020, including 150,000 square metres of employment space, focused on providing science and research space. The plans also include 1,500 new homes, a hotel, a primary school, restaurants, cafes, and bars.

The new homes are earmarked for people working at the expanded campus to help reduce the need for travelling to and from the site. It is also hoped that this will create a ‘community’ for the site and encourage people to visit from surrounding areas.

The design guide includes an agroforestry area to the north of the campus, rather than fields as originally planned. Adjustments have also been made to the layout to ensure the most appropriate design was chosen and set out the spacial structure of the site.

A report to the planning committee said:

“There is an opportunity to create a place that will be, in some respects, unlike any other. Reflecting on the world’s leading research/education, campus-based institutions, as well as the very best of historic and contemporary garden/landscape design, the Design Guide will assist in delivering in highly sustainable and well designed schemes.

The Design Guide sets out the vision for the expansion land. It seeks to create a vibrant, high quality and distinctive extension to the existing Wellcome Genome campus reflecting and enhancing the special character of the surrounding areas whilst working in synergy with the campus.

Officers support the overall masterplan vision, as it emphasises the need to take an integrated approach to aspects of building design, design in the public realm, movement and sustainability. This vision would be in accordance with broader development principles contained within the outline planning permission.”

The application can be viewed in full on the South Cambridgeshire District Council planning portal. This can be done using the reference S/4329/18/COND21 or clicking here.

Source: Cambridge News