Science campus to replace 1980s office blocks

An artist's impression of proposals to redevelop the Westbrook Centre office blocks in Cambridge, from the Milton Road perspective

A number of 1980s office blocks in Cambridge are set to be demolished to make way for a new science campus, despite concerns from some residents.

Developers claimed plans to redevelop the Westbrook Centre would invest £360m in the area, "reinvigorate an underused site" and create about 1,000 jobs.

However, some neighbours raised concerns about the plans, including the height of the new buildings.

Plans to demolish and redevelop the four existing blocks on Westbrook Drive, off Milton Road, were put forward by Forge Bio No.4 GP Ltd. Cambridge City Council's planning committee voted unanimously to approve the plans.

The Westbrook Centre buildings in Cambridge are due to be torn down

The partly vacant office blocks are due to be replaced with three new life science buildings, as well as a cafe and new children's play area.

At a committee meeting on Wednesday, a representative of the developer told councillors the scheme would bring "significant benefits".

Tim Price, director of planning agents Savills, said: "[The proposals will] reinvigorate an underused employment site, optimising brownfield land to create a new sustainable campus that delivers new employment opportunities, new community facilities and benefits."

Mr Price said the campus would use less water and that people would be encouraged to travel there using sustainable modes of transport, highlighting the reduction of car parking by 95 spaces and the increase of cycle parking by 814 spaces.

There were 54 objections lodged in opposition.

A resident, who lives nearby, told councillors she "strongly objected" to the new development, branding the height – ranging from three to five storeys - and massing of the proposed life science buildings as "unacceptable".

She also feared "significant disruption" from construction for many years.

Liberal Democrat councillor Nadya Lokhmotova, Trumpington ward, said there were many parts of the development that she liked, but added she "did not particularly like that it is a new building" and that retrofit opportunities should have been explored more.

The developers said during their final consultation phase they hoped to complete the project in 2027, if they were able to begin work in the third quarter of 2024.