Plans for new research buildings and pub for Wellcome Genome Campus expansion unveiled
Detailed plans for the next stage of the major expansion of the Wellcome Genome Campus in Hinxton, including life science buildings and a new pub/restaurant, have been unveiled.
Outline permission was granted in 2020 for the overall project to triple the size if the world-famous campus, renowned for its part in sequencing the human genome for the first time.
The overall plan is to create 150,000 sq m of flexible employment uses, building 1,500 new homes, and building shops, restaurants, cafés, bars and other leisure facilities.
Detailed plans have since been put forward for new infrastructure, and for the first 83 homes, a health and leisure facility and a café.
The latest application submitted to South Cambridgeshire District Council by Urban and Civic Hinxton Ltd sets out plans to build two new Research and Translation (R&T) buildings on land next to the A1301, referred to as Parcel D.
The developer said: “Parcel D is a significant milestone for the campus expansion as it represents the first research and translation (R&T) development on the expansion land.
“A substantial investment by Wellcome, it will bring two new exemplary life science buildings to the market, delivering in excess of 20,000 GEA of new floorspace which will provide flexible R&T floorspace, which can be configured to suit a number of different sizes of tenants, from start-ups to established mature businesses, and a variety of different types of science.”
A pub/restaurant is planned on the ground floor of one of the new buildings and will be open to all.
The developer said the pub/restaurant will also include bookable rooms that could be used for meetings, or for social gatherings offering a “versatile space to meet a range of needs”.
Urban and Civic Hinxton added that the two laboratory buildings would be constructed in parallel to the new homes approved last year.
It said Wellcome is “committed to shaping a unique destination with the homes and amenities to support a diverse life science community”.
The developer explained that the design of the new laboratory buildings had been “carefully considered”, due to the prominence they will have at one of the main entrances to the extended campus.
It said: “Parcel D will provide an important precedent for the campus and for Wellcome in demonstrating the quality of development that will be brought forward.
“It also has an important role in attracting the first new occupiers to the expanded campus.
“Spatially, it is crucial in facilitating connectivity between the existing campus and the wider expansion land and will be an important destination to assist in wayfinding and establishing a sense of the place.
“The proposed design for Parcel D has been carefully considered in this context with recognition of its prominence, its early contribution and role in reflecting the vision and ambition for the wider development.”
