Gen Two has received planning permission for the development of a new 125,000 sq ft life sciences hub in Cambridge.
The Alchemy scheme will be delivered on a 5.2-acre former brownfield site in Fowlmere and will retain and reuse two of five existing two-storey structures to minimise the embodied carbon impact of the development.
Gen Two will create eight self-contained laboratory suites ranging from 10,000 sq ft – 20,000 sq ft which can be combined to provide larger headquarter facilities. The site will also offer a cafe-deli, a new gym, co-working facilities and conference space.
Ariel Levy, co-founder of Gen Two, said: “In the Cambridge life sciences ecosystem there is unquestionably a need for additional fit for purpose and adaptable R&D scale-up space, which we are proud to have secured planning consent for. As a team we’ve seen strong support from the local community for our new science and innovation campus. We’ve been through a detailed planning process, engaging early on with key local stakeholders, who have helped shape the project’s design through parish meetings, public consultation and an interactive youth engagement programme run in partnership with Greater Cambridge Shared Planning.”
Daniel Sterling, co-founder of Gen Two, added: “We’ve spent the past few years assembling an experienced team of experts with a vision to build an institutional grade portfolio of life sciences real estate assets in Cambridge, Oxford and Leeds. As we look to grow our portfolio in these places and bring forward our existing pipeline, we are extremely encouraged by the number of meaningful conversations we are having with best-in-class capital partners, who also see the highly supportive long-term fundamentals for high quality and flexible life sciences spaces.
“We’re focused on delivering world-class laboratories and workspace for our country’s brightest biotech businesses, a number of which we are in discussions with. Alchemy’s planning approval from South Cambridge District Council is a strong endorsement in our product and development approach, and we’re looking forward to delivering the project in the next two years.”
