Bruntwood wins go-ahead for massive expansion to Melbourn Science Park

Its joint venture partnership with Legal & General and Greater Manchester Pension Fund will redevelop Melbourn Science Park at an estimated cost of £250 million, providing space for up to 75 businesses. 

Architects Sheppard Robson will refurbish three existing buildings and construct six more. The new buildings’ communal spaces are intended to be net zero carbon in construction and operation while the existing buildings will be upgraded to maximise energy efficiency, and much of their existing fabric will be retained.

Carbon emissions will be reduced through an energy efficient heating network that links heating and cooling between buildings and is connected to all-electric air source heat pumps. 

Melbourn Science Park is situated in Royston, North Hertfordshire but close to Cambridge, a key component in the UK life science ‘golden triangle’, together with Oxford and London.

Bruntwood building consultancy director Daron Williams stated:  “The Park has a long history as a centre for scientific innovation and we are proud to be able to continue and build on this legacy, and also connect start-ups, scaleups and global businesses who locate here to our UK-wide community of more than 1,100 companies.”

Bruntwood SciTech announced in October it would invest £500 million to support the UK’s innovation economy, with the aim of creating a £5 billion UK-wide portfolio supporting 2,600 businesses by 2032.