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Concern over labs plan for retail park in Cambridge

Janine Machin
Correspondent, BBC East
Nic Rigby
BBC Politics East
Janine Machin/BBC Naomi Bennett, leader of the Green Party on Cambridge City CouncilJanine Machin/BBC
Naomi Bennett, leader of the Green Party on Cambridge City Council, said she is concerned at the plans for the Beehive Centre in the city

Plans to turn a retail park in Cambridge into laboratories could push people out of the city, a councillor said.

Railpen, which owns the Beehive Centre, wants to redevelop it to create labs, offices, smaller shops and cafes.

Cambridge City Council was due to refuse the application because of the impact on homes but the government intervened and the decision rests with them.

Green Party leader Naomi Bennett said shops were vital facilities in the area.

A Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government spokesman said: "Cambridge can have a vital role in kickstarting economic growth, but it is being held back by unaffordable housing and poor transport connections."

A tall sign stands on a grass verge with cars and reatil uints in the background. The sign says 'Beehive Centre' and displays the names and logos of 18 stores which are currently based on the site.
The Beehive Centre currently offers free parking to those using its stores

"The government will accelerate economic growth across the Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor, to the benefits of local communities and national prosperity," the spokesperson added.

Railpen, a pension investment company, said it wanted to work with the local community and the scheme would include amenities.

The Beehive Centre is a retail park on the eastern edge of Cambridge. It is home to major brands like M&S Food, Next Home, B&M and Asda, and it is one of few places in the city where it is free to park.

In January, the chancellor announced that boosting the science sector in Cambridge is key to her plans for economic growth.

Railpen Artist's impression of the redeveloped Beehive Centre. It shows office buildings which are five storeys high, with shops and cafes on the ground floor. the building are set around an area of cycle paths and planted spaces with trees and flowers.Railpen
Land owner, Railpen, says its plans to redevelop the Beehive Centre will create 3,000 jobs for local residents

Naomi Bennett, leader of the Green Party on Cambridge City Council, said the plans to use the area for scientific laboratories and offices meant local people "were being pushed out of Cambridge".

"A lot of people in the area have low incomes and more than 40% of households have no access to cars so to have local shops on your door step are really important," she said.

"I don't think the government understands that people need to shop and go shopping. I don't think the government understands."

Railpen Railpen's head of property, Matt Howard, said they aimed to work with the local community Railpen
Railpen's head of property, Matt Howard, said they aimed to work with the local community
A map showing cambridge surrounded by 12 science and innovation parks - each illustrated by a red dot
The existing science and innovation parks around Cambridge (highlighted in red) employ thousands of people

Cambridge is surrounded by science and innovation parks including the Cambridge Biomedical Campus which, as the largest health research campus in Europe, employs more than 20,000 people.

Railpen's head of property, Matt Howard, said: "We don't believe that putting scientists and innovators in a field in the middle of nowhere is the right way to release creativity.

"They need amenities and activities so that's what we're trying to create here, but we're trying to do it with the local community as well."

A section of the Beehive Centre showing the shop fronts of Gymfinity Kids, Carpets for Less, Dreams and Tapi Carpets. A busy carpark is shown in the foreground.
It is not clear which stores would be lost and which would relocate from the Beehive Centre to the neighbouring Cambridge Retail Park

"We're committed to the Cambridge Retail Park" said Mr Howard. "Our aim is to create an ecosystem where the retail park serves workers at the new Beehive Centre and those workers sustain the retail park."

A report by the Greater Cambridge Partnership found that lab space around the city would meet demand until 2030, but warned of "a shortfall of critical smaller space for start-up businesses" which take academic research forward into the first stages of product development.

The Labour MP for Cambridge, Daniel Zeichner, said he hoped the government would now ensure that "all voices are heard".

He added: "It's an important site for redevelopment. Cambridge must be allowed to grow, but that must also mean better transport, affordable homes, and investment in healthcare."

BBC Politics East was broadcast on Sunday, 30 March and can be seen on BBC iPlayer.

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