Planning consent granted for large lab and office block at CBC
Planning consent has been secured for a new 112,604 sq ft life sciences facility at the Cambridge Biomedical Campus (CBC). The building, proposed by logistics and property developer Prologis, will sit at 4000 Discovery Drive and rise to six storeys, providing a mix of laboratory and office accommodation.
The scheme forms part of Phase 2 of the wider campus development. In February, Cambridgeshire County Council confirmed a partnership with Prologis to take forward Phases 3 and 4, which together are expected to deliver an additional 2.4 million sq ft of space for life‑science research, development and innovation on the site.
What the development means locally
The approved building at 4000 Discovery Drive will add substantial specialist floorspace to a campus that is already a major cluster for biomedical research. For Cambridge residents and local employers, the scheme is likely to influence several areas:
- Employment: the facility will support the life‑science ecosystem at CBC and is intended to attract and house research organisations.
- Infrastructure and services: more staff and visiting researchers may increase demand for local transport, housing and services around the campus.
- Long‑term campus growth: Phase 2 consent and the county council partnership on later phases show a planned, multi‑decade expansion of specialist space in Cambridge.
Statements from developers and civic leaders
"Prologis has been investing in the UK life sciences sector for over 20 years, providing the critical infrastructure necessary to ensure that businesses have the modern, sustainable facilities they need,"
said Paul Weston, regional head of Prologis UK, emphasising the firm's long‑term commitment to the sector and the role of the campus in sustaining innovation.
"The approval of 4000 Discovery Drive is a clear vote of confidence in Cambridge and the UK’s life sciences economy,"
said Paul Bristow, mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, noting that the decision and the earlier investment partnership with the county council demonstrate public‑private collaboration to unlock nationally important infrastructure.
Scope of the programme
Prologis’s consent for the six‑storey commercial building completes the final consent on the Phase 2 commercial element while the company and the county move ahead with plans for further phases. The combination of phased delivery and the council partnership indicates a strategy of advancing new floorspace ahead of immediate tenant demand to retain and attract organisations to Cambridge.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | 4000 Discovery Drive, Cambridge Biomedical Campus |
| Size | 112,604 sq ft |
| Storeys | Six |
| Phase | Phase 2 (consent); Phases 3 & 4 planned with county council partnership |
| Further floorspace planned | 2.4 million sq ft (Phases 3 and 4) |
The consent is part of Prologis’s stated, long‑term investment in the UK life‑sciences market. The company and local leaders frame the expansion as a way to "cement the campus’ position" in global life sciences and to deliver economic and health benefits locally and nationally.
For residents, the continuing growth of CBC will be primarily felt through increased demand for local services and housing, and opportunities for high‑value jobs in the life‑science sector. The partnership between a private developer and Cambridgeshire County Council highlights the use of public‑private arrangements to enable large‑scale research infrastructure in the region.
