Cambridge Science Park has today submitted its masterplan for planning consent, outlining a generational opportunity for British economic growth. This could see the Park’s annual gross value add (GVA) rise from £1 billion to more than £3 billion.
The 152-acre site in north Cambridge, founded by Trinity College Cambridge in 1970 is the UK’s oldest science park. It has quietly powered breakthroughs like the chip in your phone, cancer drugs and Bluetooth technology. For over 50 years, it has turned world-class science into jobs, investment and exports, generating approximately £1 billion in gross value added each year at more than twice the national productivity average. It directly employs over 7,000 people, with a GVA per employee of £139,000, 65 per cent above the wider Cambridge figure, making it critical to both local and national economic infrastructure.
This privately funded masterplan will increase built space from 2.8 million to approximately 8 million square feet, delivering around 20,000 additional high-skilled jobs in life sciences, technology and clean energy. These roles will birth industries that do not yet exist, keeping Britain competitive against America and Asia in sectors defining the next century. The expansion aligns with Government ambitions, including the Chancellor’s January 2025 vision for the Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor as Europe’s Silicon Valley, backed by £500 million and the Cambridge Growth Company.
Beyond jobs and output, the project will create a new, public Park of Science with green routes, lakes and biodiverse spaces to foster collaboration, an outdoor museum of science alongside places to meet and eat. Improved transport via busways and rail will cut car dependency. It commits to local education through apprenticeships and skills programmes, ensuring benefits reach communities from Kings Hedges to Peterborough.
Jane Hutchins, Director, External Relations at Cambridge Science Park, said: “Innovation at Cambridge Science Park has already changed how billions of people live their lives, from groundbreaking cancer drugs to Bluetooth technology. Now our masterplan scales that success to deliver threefold economic growth and up to 20,000 new jobs. This privately funded project provides certainty rare in modern development and has the potential to be a key component of the UK’s future economic growth. With approval, we cannot wait to see the industries of the future being created here in Cambridge.”
Dame Sally Davies, Master of Trinity College, said: “Our masterplan is the latest step in Trinity’s long-term backing of the Science Park and surrounding areas. Our bold and ambitious vision for the future of the Park means we are strengthening our commitment to being a key driver of growth in the UK. Our plan means that economic output from the site is tripled, with productivity twice that of the national average. The plan offers a unique opportunity for Britain to lead the global transition into the industries and innovations that will define our future, and continue to change lives all over the world.”
A spokesperson for Cambridge University said: “As the UK’s oldest and largest science park, Cambridge Science Park has been a cornerstone of the Cambridge Phenomenon for over half a century. It has been critical in transforming our city from a historic place of learning into a global centre of scientific and technological innovation.
“This masterplan sets the direction for the next 30 years, shaping a place where world-class innovation can thrive in an environment that is open, sustainable and welcoming to all.
“By opening the Park of Science and widening access to STEM opportunities for local children, the Science Park will inspire the next generation of innovators. It will be a place where curiosity is sparked early and ambition can grow. From school pupils to leading researchers, this is where people can be inspired to pursue ideas that change lives – advancing the mission of the University to serve society through discovery and knowledge.
“Nationally, the masterplan is a strong vote of confidence in the UK as a science and technology leader. The Park’s expansion will create thousands of high-quality jobs, contribute billions to the national economy, and help ensure that the breakthroughs of the future are developed here in the UK.
“This project reflects the strength of collaboration between the University, Trinity, the wider collegiate community and our partners in local and national Government. Together, as long-term stewards of Cambridge’s future, we are ensuring our city remains the best place in the world to innovate, while delivering real prosperity for the region and the country as a whole.”
Neil Tween, Chief Financial Officer of Park member Owlstone Medical, said: “Cambridge Science Park has been key to our growth – from a university spin-out to a global leader in breath biopsy. It has provided us with access to continued talent and space, and the reputation of the Park has helped position the business for success.
“The Park’s continued redevelopment is vital to ensuring companies like Owlstone can start and scale here in the UK.”
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