Expansion of Cambridge Biomedical Campus to south on cards
Early ideas to expand Cambridge Biomedical Campus to the south put Addenbrooke’s Hospital at the heart of a wider vision for the site, a meeting heard.
Outline concepts for the expansion were presented to residents and stakeholders by the Cambridge Biomedical Campus Landowners’ Collaborative Group.
Michael Hudson, Cambridgeshire County Council’s director of finance, spoke on behalf of the group.
“Addenbrooke’s is critical to our health here in Cambridgeshire. The hospital delivers urgent and important services used by hundreds of people each day. To support that provision now – and as Cambridgeshire’s population grows – it’s essential that we create a plan for the future,” he said.
The Greater Cambridge Shared Planning community planning update meeting heard the group’s long-term development aspirations for the sustainable development of the campus.
The landowners’ group is made up of the county council, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Trust, the University of Cambridge, Prologis and the Pemberton Family Trust.
The early ideas include continuing to develop the campus, and expanding it further to the south. They are being outlined in response to the growth proposals set out in the Greater Cambridge First Proposals documents and in response to Cambridge Biomedical Campus Ltd’s Cambridge Biomedical Campus Vision 2050.
The ideas show how the landowners think development options being explored through the emerging Great Cambridge Local Plan and Cambridge Biomedical Campus Ltd’s Vision for 2050 could be taken forward.
Whilst still working through the potential options ahead of any formal planning proposals, the various partners have agreed to refine the various ambitious proposals.
The group intend to engage with the community, initially through a range of theme-based workshops which will take place in 2025. The workshops will align with planning timetables including the Greater Cambridge Local Plan and ensure that future proposals for the site benefit from the input of the wider community.
Workshops are anticipated to include representatives from campus occupiers, councillors, parish councils and key interested parties, with this meeting the first step.
Mr Hudson continued: “The world-class medical research that takes place daily across the Biomedical Campus makes a difference – not only to people’s health and wellbeing locally – but nationally and internationally.
“Government has made clear their ambitions for the continued economic growth of Cambridge – and of the Biomedical Campus.
“We want to ensure that this involves and benefits local people. When political leaders met with the planning minister recently, they emphasised how our area’s substantial economic success also creates significant pressures on local people, on services and infrastructure – and it was encouraging to hear the minister’s appreciation and understanding of these issues.
“This is only the start of a process where we work with everyone from local residents to central government to deliver for our communities, businesses and health partners, now and the years ahead.”
