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Projects

Cambridge Discovery Campus

Client
Bridgemere UK Ltd

Size
Six new buildings will offer 250,000 sq ft

Location
Cambridge, Hauxton

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Cambridge Discovery Campus (CDC) began life as a bold vision shaped by ambition, timing, and trust. Foundation Capital Ventures (FCV), a Cambridge-connected investor with deep roots in the science and tech ecosystem, approached Bidwells in 2022 with a challenge: help create a next-generation innovation campus just five miles from Cambridge Biomedical Campus.

Set within a 21-hectare former water treatment works on the edge of Hauxton, the project sought to unlock a future-ready cluster capable of supporting the region’s growing science and technology community. Transforming this underutilised site presented a rare opportunity to create flexible space for scaling R&D businesses and strengthen a vital link within the area’s innovation ecosystem.

From Planning to Partnership

Our project managers led the charge, assembling a full consultancy team and driving a well-orchestrated planning submission, all within an ambitious six-month window.

But just as the project reached its first pre-application milestone, the landowner, Bridgemere UK, recognised the potential. Impressed by the strength of the proposals, they shifted strategy, deciding to retain ownership and partner with FCV, ultimately stepping forward as the client of record.

Bidwells adapted immediately. Our Planning and Project Management teams navigated the shifting dynamic to keep momentum strong. When planning consent was secured, Bridgemere asked us to stay on to manage the remediation process - proof of trust earned through quality of delivery, collaboration, and diplomacy.

Shaping a Science Campus for Scale-Ups

Designed as a feeder site to Cambridge Biomedical Campus, CDC targets scaling science and tech companies.

Six new buildings will offer 250,000 sq ft net (368,000 sq ft GIA) of highly flexible R&D, lab, and office space. Units can be configured for multi-tenancy or single occupiers, giving future owners and occupiers freedom to grow.

This was no off-the-shelf solution. Nestled within the Green Belt, the scheme had to balance ambition with sensitivity. Our team, alongside architects and MEP consultants with deep sector experience, developed a design that worked with the landscape.

Pitched roofs conceal plant equipment. Buildings are immersed in woodland buffers. Only the 9.5 ha previously developed land is being built on and the remaining 11.5 ha becomes a new Country Park, delivering biodiversity net gain and community amenity.

Planning Under Pressure

Speed was non-negotiable. The entire project moved from inception to planning submission in just six months - faster than the planning authority took to reach committee. The timeline was driven by the need to complete remediation during warmer months. Our project managers worked hand-in-hand with planning officers to unlock conditions and keep the programme on track.

Securing approvals from the Environment Agency was a challenge due to the site’s contamination profile. Working with experienced specialists, Bidwells led this process from start to finish, overcoming the technical and bureaucratic obstacles standing in the project’s way.

Winning Community Support

This wasn’t just about buildings; CDC is being delivered without closed fences and gated perimeters - a deliberate choice to make it feel open, integrated, and part of the local community.

Early and sustained engagement with the Parish Council paid off. By locating the new amenity building next to the adjacent sports ground, the team created a space that serves both campus users and weekend cricket players alike. The Parish Council stood up at planning committee to speak in favour of the project - an almost unheard-of endorsement.

Sustainability as Standard

The development aims to be leading-edge, demonstrating environmental ambition without risking delivery. The client committed to high sustainability standards from day one, with scope to raise the bar further. The Country Park, building design, transport strategy, and amenity offer all align with the project’s long-term placemaking and environmental credentials.

Looking Ahead: A Site Ready for the Next Owner

The remediation works reached completion in December 2025 2 months ahead of programme, final reports have been submitted to the LPA and EA to discharge planning conditions related to remediation. The site will soon be marketed for sale.