Babraham Research Campus

The challenge was to create a sustainable ecosystem where private and government-funded research could accelerate innovation and strengthen links between academia and industry. Located within the green belt and on the edge of a conservation area, the campus also contains listed buildings, ecological assets, and important archaeology that presented both constraints and opportunities for growth.

As Lead Consultant and Architect of the original and supplementary masterplans, we have worked with planning officers and community stakeholders since 2003 to guide the campus’s long-term development. To date, the team has delivered 12 laboratory buildings and more than 500,000 square feet of development, alongside support facilities including a biological support unit, conference center, restaurant, and sports amenities. Public realm improvements have further enhanced connectivity and supported the wellbeing of employees and visitors across the campus.

By adhering to the original masterplan, the campus has maintained visual continuity while establishing a distinct identity for each building. Today, Babraham Research Campus is home to more than 60 companies, 2,000 employees, and 300 academic researchers, with a 98% occupancy rate and a strategy in place to support future growth and evolving requirements.

Building on this success, the latest masterplan produced by our team and our partners outlines a strategy for future growth, seeking to have the campus released from the green belt and allocated as a Special Policy Area within the ongoing Greater Cambridge Local Plan review.