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The Crown Estate unveils pilot project to turn empty Cambridge office block into innovation hub with ‘rooftop farm’




Developers have shared plans for a pilot project to turn an empty office block in Cambridge into a new innovation hub with a rooftop farm.

The Crown Estate wants to “breathe new life into Cambridge Business Park” and said the transformation of Robinson House will be an early part of this work.

How Origin could look on Cambridge Business Park. Picture: The Crown Estate
How Origin could look on Cambridge Business Park. Picture: The Crown Estate

Councillors from Cambridge City Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council were briefed last Wednesday (23 April) on the developing plans, ahead of a formal planning application being submitted.

Robinson House, on the western edge of the business park beside Milton Road, was formerly Ernst and Young’s offices, but is currently empty.

Representatives of the developer told councillors they hoped to transform the building to create a “high quality showcase” ahead of a wider masterplan for the whole business park.

The office block would be refurbished and the reception area extended with two single-storey extensions.

Part of the existing car park would be used to create a new modular laboratory building.

A café and an events space are also proposed, as well as an ‘urban farm’ on top of the building.

Lizzie Sears, development manager at The Crown Estate, told councillors that transforming Robinson House into ‘Origin’ would be the first step of a wider masterplan to redevelop the business park “into an asset which will generate a positive impact on the local community and surrounding areas, whilst contributing to the innovation economy, and pioneering sustainable solutions to address global environmental challenges”.

Cambridge Business Park. Picture: Google
Cambridge Business Park. Picture: Google

Ms Sears said: “What is really exciting is that the existing vacant Robinson House presents a really unique opportunity for us to set our intention for the future of the business park, to address local need and market demand early, and also to engage with stakeholders in the community from the real outset of the masterplan process.

“Robinson House will become Origin, the Crown Estate’s first innovation hub and lab space, with a temporary use of 10 to 15 years.

“This will meet much needed demand for start-up space in Cambridge.

“It is going to provide Cambridge Business Park’s first on-site public food and beverage offer, which is very much needed in that area, and also a space for people to bump into each other so that they can share ideas in terms of business.

“It will also provide an events space for local stakeholders and also provide the Crown Estate a space for us to test and learn in terms of community and stakeholder relationships and also ideas for the future of Cambridge Business Park.”

Cllr Martin Smart (Lab, King’s Hedges) asked why the building is only planned to be used for 15 years and what will happen afterwards.

Robinson House in Cambridge. Picture: Google
Robinson House in Cambridge. Picture: Google

Ms Sears said a building life survey had shown the office block had an economic lifespan of 15 years, after which it would be demolished and redeveloped as part of the final stages of the overall business park redevelopment. The modular laboratory buildings are planned to be reused.

Cllr Katie Porrer (Lib Dem, Market) was interested in the urban farm - but warned that keeping animals up there would be “a little optimistic”.

Ms Sears confirmed the urban farm would be focused on growing plants, not keeping animals.

Cllr Dr Martin Cahn (Lib Dem, Histon and Impington) predicted potential parking problems when the events space is used as only seven car parking spaces would be kept.

Ms Sears replied that parking elsewhere in the business park could potentially be used on those occasions.

When unveiling its vision last November, The Crown Estate said the wider masterplan for the business park would deliver more than 4,000 new jobs, more than 250 homes and new leisure, retail and public spaces.



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