Imperial War Museums and Gonville & Caius College, University of Cambridge are seeking a Development Partner to develop an exemplar Advanced Aviation Technology ('AvTech') R&D, manufacturing, and employment campus at Duxford.
Duxford AvTech is a unique 24.7 acres (10.01 hectares) site, situated immediately adjacent to the world-renowned Imperial War Museum Duxford and its Airfield. The Landowners' vision for Duxford AvTech is to cultivate a pioneering advanced aviation technology cluster, aspiring to establish itself as a market leader in the sector. It is envisaged the site will be developed with a combination of aircraft hangars, manufacturing, warehousing, midtech R&D, and office space. The objective is to foster an inter-connected ecosystem of tenants, facilitating the exchange of both facilities and aviation technology expertise coupled with direct access to an operational airfield. The indicative masterplan comprises approximately 46,450 sqm (500,000 sq ft) of gross external commercial floor space.
The Landowners wish to appoint an experienced development partner who will enter into a Development Agreement and will obtain planning permission for Duxford AvTech in line with the Landowners' strategic objectives, outlined in the heads of terms. The development partner will obtain funding, draw-down development phases under a long lease, appoint a contractor, manage the delivery of the consented scheme, secure tenants, share rental income, and proactively manage the estate creating a successful long term investment.
The site is located to the west of the American Air Museum at IWM Duxford, at Junction 10 of the M11, at the northern end of the Duxford Airfield runway. The combined site proposed for Duxford AvTech and IWM Lab covers a total area of 12.78 hectares (31.58 acres). The Duxford AvTech opportunity extends to over 10.01 hectares (24.74 acres), and the IWM Lab site covers 2.77 hectares (6.84 acres).
The eastern portion of the site, owned by IWM, includes the Land Warfare Hall. It is proposed that this hall will be demolished to make way for the construction of the new IWM Lab. The western part of the site, owned by Caius, consists mainly of amenity grassland with a moderately low Agricultural Land Classification. This land is primarily used as overflow parking for IWM events.
Key considerations:
- Duxford AvTech is a unique 24.7 acres (10.01 hectares) site, situated immediately adjacent to the world-renowned Imperial War Museum, Duxford and its airfield.
- The indicative masterplan comprises approximately 46,450 sqm (500,000 sq ft) of gross external commercial floor space.
- Opportunity to deliver a national hub for the development of the next generation of sustainable air mobility.
- Direct runway access.
- Positive pre-application response.
- Formal Public Procurement Process. Please see Information Memorandum (Brochure) for full details of process and anticipated timelines.
Lease terms
To access the data portal, please follow this link:
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/019282-2024
