Update 28 February 2025 - We have a new website for the Cambridge West Innovation District which sets out our ambitions to transform the existing site into a connected, beautiful and sustainable place, open to all.
Cambridge West is powered by the University of Cambridge and the globally renowned Cambridge cluster, one of the world’s leading innovation ecosystems. It is already a hub for world-leading departments in physical sciences, technology, mathematics, and engineering and for academic entrepreneurs and transformational spin-out companies. There is now a generational opportunity for industry to locate at scale with our innovation community and to reimagine the district as the premier location in Europe for global businesses to locate research and innovation activity.
This website was created to provide information about the masterplanning process that the University is undertaking to support an outline planning application which was submitted in June 2016and supplementary planning information was submitted in October 2017 and October 2020. After Planning Committee approval in 2021, and agreement of the Section 106 in 2023, final documentation was submitted in March 2024 ahead of the granting of Outline Planning Approval on 21 June 2024.
Development at West Cambridge has been on-going since the 1960s and planning permission was granted in 1999 for the current framework for the site. A review of the site through a masterplanning process is currently underway which aims to create a high quality, well connected research environment that will support the University's and City's globally competitive position, whilst also creating opportunities to support the Cambridge Cluster with the commercialisation of knowledge through entrepreneurship and collaboration with industry.
This website is a platform to share and consult on the proposals for the masterplan, which is the long term plan for the West Cambridge site. We want to create the best possible research environment and we value the input from our stakeholders. Please take time to look at our plans and attend consultation events. Importantly please provide feedback at our events or by email through the Contact page so we can understand your views on the emerging proposals in advance of the planning application.
In parallel to the masterplan review that will look at the long-term development of West Cambridge, there is on-going improvement and current development on the existing site. For information about developments that are in progress, please contact the University's Estates Division.
