Pioneer Group Ltd embarked on a mission to revitalise the declining Grafton Centre, with a staggering 48% vacancy rate and changing retail landscape. Our client’s vision is to create a vibrant, mixed-use development, blending a new life sciences centre with a hotel, leisure quarter, retail offering, and public realm enhancements.
By navigating complex planning challenges and community consultations, and by fostering strong relationships with key stakeholders, including local authorities, we strategically positioned the development for council approval, repurposing a significant portion of the Grafton Centre for a valuable life science hub.
The culmination of our efforts came to fruition in February 2024, as members of the Planning Committee gave the greenlight to the full planning application, aligning our client’s ambitious goals for the site. This marked a significant milestone in breathing new life into the heart of Cambridge.
The impact of this project extends far beyond bricks and mortar and is poised to address the critical shortage of laboratories and offices in Cambridge, fuelling economic growth and innovation. By offering incubator spaces and a community classroom, the scheme will nurture a skilled STEM workforce, creating a ripple effect of socioeconomic benefits for the entire community.
Alongside this, the scheme consolidated the existing retail offering, focusing on providing high quality and flexible units which are more resilient to the changing needs and complement the other central shopping locations such as the Grand Arcade and Lion Yard. A new leisure quarter would also encourage visitors to the City Centre and provide an improved evening offer.
Significant public realm enhancements are proposed including a new public square, and associated highways improvements and bus stops, new cycle parking, integrated public art and associated landscaping.
This transformation of the Grafton Centre into a cutting-edge life sciences hub is not just a redevelopment project; it's a catalyst for innovation, growth, and community prosperity in Cambridge.
Jonathan Bainbridge
Partner, Planning
Jonathan has a strong track record of securing complex, mixed-use planning permissions in sensitive heritage contexts across the golden triangle and the Oxford to Cambridge Arc.
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