Business Weekly - Cambridge, UK

Marking the first new building work since joint developers Churchmanor Estates and Morley Fund Management took over the Park in 2000, Stockholm-listed Medivir will move into bespoke lab facilities in 2004, while plans for a new central facilities building have also been rubber-stamped.

The developer’s long-term vision was handed further endorsement by the UK Science Park Association (UKSPA) decision to move its UK headquarters from Aston Science Park in Birmingham to Chesterford.

UKSPA is moving into Garden Cottage, one of the estate’s two former estate houses that are to be restored as a part of future master plan development proposals.

Martin Sylvester of Churchmanor Estates promised that further significant progress was in the pipeline, with another new tenant due to move to the Park next month and yet another new arrival due in the Spring.

The development partners plan to build around 250,000 sq ft of new research accommodation – taking total floorspace to 430,000 sq ft – before reviewing

Morley – one of the UK’s largest property fund managers – acquired the Park in July 2000 when Aventis closed down its 600-strong research operation at the site.

The park’s tenants now employ around 370, but with a new wave of expansion afoot that figure could rise significantly.

The joint venture partners have spent the ensuing three years improving the Park’s infrastucture and consolidating the available space.

Sylvester said: “The Park had been used as a research location for almost 50 years, but developments were piecemeal and many existing buildings had fallen into disrepair.

“Over the last three years extensive work has been undertaken to prepare the site for multiple occupancy – to refurbish, improve and let 180,000 sq ft of existing buildings – and to plan how best to add to the site while retaining as many original features as possible.

“Access into the Park has been considerably upgraded and improved with a new roundabout constructed to provide for additional site traffic as the park develops.”

The first phase of development, which is underpinned by an approved masterplan, includes the central facilities building and two more labs in addition to Medivir’s new HQ. The plans, along with re-alignment of an internal road were approved by Uttlesford District Council in July 2003.

Current site tenants also include Adprotech, Arakis, BioFocus, Radiant Networks, Solexa and the Wellcome Trust.

Medivir is currently located at Peterhouse Technology Park but will move its UK headquarters and 45 staff into a bespoke lab and office building at Chesterford in 2004.

This is an important endorsement, according to Sylvester, as Medivir is the first company to commit to a new build at the park and the first anywhere in the region since last summer.

The building’s ‘shell and core’ is due for completion by April 2004 so the company can arrange the final fit-out and relocate staff in the early autumn.

The new facilities building will become a focal point for social activities at Chesterford, offering a restaurant and cafe, a gym and divisible meeting room to accommodate up to 120 delegates. Construction will start in January 2004.

Once three phases of new-build development are completed, the joint venture partners will re-visit existing buildings on the site to select which have the scope for refurbishment.

At its centre, the 250-acre site has a 30-acre development zone, a Victorian country house, a seven-hole par three golf course, several lakes and arboretum. There is a total of 350,000 sq ft of existing buildings, some of which will be re-developed in future phases of development.

A green transport plan will provide bus links to Audley End and Great Chesterford stations for rail links to London and Cambridge.