The Welding Institute (TWI)

Amend

Draft Policy J/NE: New employment and development

The provisions in the development plan need to give greater weight to the significance of Granta Park, but also recognise the need to provide flexibility to allow for the continued evolution of the park, and in doing so recognise the requirements of the Welding Institute.

The research and development Sector has seen consistent fast growth particularly in South Cambridgeshire since around 1999. This is a key employment sector relating to life sciences (including biotech, natural science, and engineering) and linked to recent and planned growth across the various campuses including Granta Park and we expect a high level of tenant demand to continue. Clustering and agglomeration benefits are most obviously applicable to the life sciences. Greater Cambridge Employment Land and Economic Needs Study Nov 2020 identifies that the R&D Sector will continue to see growth.

Clustering and agglomeration benefits are most obviously applicable to the life sciences. Although, there are other examples of clustering such as the Cambridge Biomedical Campus which is located alongside Addenbrooke’s Hospital; the development of other campus / business parks across such as Granta Park - demonstrates the ability of life sciences companies to grow around Greater Cambridge – recognising the footprint of the specialist labour market and the fact that not every life sciences business requires adjacency to a research centre or hospital.

Policies with the Local Plan need to recognise the growth opportunities on established Parks as they continue to evolve and be supportive of these, recognising the need to be able to respond to changing market below and re-invest in the existing built form. Policies within the emerging local plan should explicitly support employment development, and Granta Park should be being given similar weight to other campus developments.

Comment
Policies in the Local Plan need to be flexible enough to supporting the needs of clusters and proactively recognise opportunities for some densification to make best use of established R&D Parks, including Granta Park.