Mercers Row industrial site in Cambridge to be ‘regenerated’ after plans approved

A “run-down” industrial site in Cambridge will be redeveloped to create new ‘mid-tech’ buildings after plans were approved by councillors.

The developer said its plans will regenerate the site in Mercers Row and create hundreds of new jobs.

The plans submitted by Wrenbridge LLP and Cambridge City Council set out proposals for two phases of development.

The first phase proposes to build two new ‘mid-tech’ buildings on a currently vacant site in Mercers Row.

The second phase proposes to create up to 5,700sqm of commercial floorspace, with the potential for more mid-tech buildings, as well as other industrial uses, community facilities, and an MOT testing centre.

At a planning meeting today (Wednesday, 5 March) officers told councillors that the application offered a “very positive redevelopment of a run down brownfield site”.

They said mid-tech buildings are a “phenomenon arising in recent years” and a “crucial part of the life sciences chain”.

Officers said the overall development could create around 260 jobs and offered “significant landscape enhancements and biodiversity net gain”.

A representative for the developer said the plans would “regenerate the northern end of Mercers Row”.

They told the meeting there is a “well documented” demand for new commercial buildings in Cambridge, and said the developer planned to bring forward the first phase of the development “immediately” if granted permission.

They added that the second phase of the site would come forward at the “appropriate time”.

The representative also highlighted that the second phase of development would include new upgraded spaces for businesses like those that are already based at the site, including the soft play area.

However, concerns were raised by a charity that the redevelopment could negatively impact the nearby historic leper chapel.

Cambridge Past Present and Future said the chapel was important to people in the area and had “900 years of fascinating history”.

The group asked the council to delay making a decision on the development to ask the developer to consider planting more trees on land closer to the chapel, which they said would better screen it from the new buildings.

Officers said councillors could not require the developer to do this, as the trees would need to be planted on land outside of the developer’s control.

They also highlighted that trees and other vegetation were proposed on the edge of the site to “soften the boundary”.

A tree officer added that a range of plants had been agreed, including some faster growing plants to provide the needed screening.

Cllr Dave Baigent (Lab, Romsey) said they needed to remember that the chapel was based in an “industrial area”.

Cllr Katie Porrer (Lib Dem, Market) also highlighted that the chapel is already within a “quite industrial site”.

Cllr Martin Smart (Lab, King’s Hedges) added that he thought the new proposed buildings were “well designed and a quality piece of architecture”.

The plans were approved by a majority of councillors.