Bridgemere and Foundation Capital Ventures (FCV) have received planning approval for the 343,000 sq ft Cambridge Discovery Campus.
The campus, which will be built on a 50-acre site at the heart of Cambridge’s life sciences cluster, will provide science and innovation space suitable for SMEs across six laboratory-enabled buildings. Bridgemere and FCV are targeting BREEAM Outstanding certification for the buildings at the campus.
Will Heath, CEO of Bridgemere, said: “The importance of Cambridge as a leading life science location both nationally and internationally cannot be underestimated. Confidence in the sector and Cambridge’s ability to become a life sciences superpower was further enhanced recently with the announcement that £200m is to be invested in the expansion of AstraZeneca’s facility at the Cambridge Biomedical Campus – within Europe’s largest life science cluster – which will house approximately 1,000 employees.
“We are delighted to be able to make our own contribution to the future success of the life sciences sector in Cambridge via the provision of much needed, state-of-the-art R&D buildings within a campus that not only supports the health innovations of tomorrow, but which also contributes positively to the local community and surrounding area with additional amenity and green space for everyone to enjoy.”
Rob Sadler, from Foundation Capital Ventures, added: “The accessibility of Cambridge Discovery Campus to other notable life science R&D locations – the closest being Cambridge BiomedicalCampus accessible in minutes by road – makes it perhaps the most strategically important new campus in the cluster. In addition to its superb geographical position, the campus itself will offer occupiers an exceptional ‘whole campus’ environment, marrying flexible, high-quality lab and write up facilities with thoughtfully considered amenity within a stunning parkland setting.
Guy Kaddish, planning partner at Bidwells, which advised on the planning application, said: “We are immensely proud to have played a pivotal role in winning consent for a scheme that will re-enforce Cambridge’s standing as a world-leading science and innovation ecosystem. The Cambridge Discovery Park will deliver world class lab space that is conceptualised to harness the development of small to medium sized enterprises working within some of Britain’s most exciting, high potential industries and all set in a generous parkland. A key part for why the scheme is to be so successful are the tangible local benefits to the community, including a new pavilion and country park.”
