Latest news with #BeehiveCentre
BBC News
30-03-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Concern over labs plan for Beehive Centre in Cambridge
Plans to turn a retail park in Cambridge into laboratories could push people out of the city, a councillor 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 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." "The government will accelerate economic growth across the Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor, to the benefits of local communities and national prosperity," the spokesperson a pension investment company, said it wanted to work with the local community and the scheme would include 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. 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." 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 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." "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 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 Cambridgeshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Starbucks and Pizza Hut to be demolished for offices
Councillors have agreed on plans to knock down a Pizza Hut and Starbucks and replace them with new offices. Developer and pensions manager Railpen said it planned to create a "bold striking development" to replace "three low quality buildings" on Cambridge Retail Park. The office block would be part of a wider project to redevelop the retail park. Cambridge City Council approved the plans, but concern was raised the new building could dominate Newmarket Road because of its height, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service. At a planning meeting on Thursday, Railpen also outlined plans for a new retail food and beverage unit, which have not yet been submitted. The developer said it wanted to offer a "diverse mix of facilities" and provide compelling reasons for visitors to return. It also hopes to redevelop the Beehive Centre, near Coldham's Lane, although that scheme was recommended for refusal. A spokesperson said: "It [Cambridge Retail Park] will feature retail frontage to the park, offices facing Newmarket Road, and extensive landscaping to align with the council's vision for this key city gateway." One ward councillor for the area, Naomi Bennett, said she "welcomed" redevelopment of the current "eyesore" site. But she added people living nearby were "extremely anxious about the construction process" and asked the developer to keep people informed throughout the work. Dave Baigent, another councillor, said another interpretation of the description of the office block as a "strong building" could be that it "dominated Newmarket Road". Officers explained plans for the building were to make it a "focal point in Newmarket Road" and it was "not much higher" than an existing Premier Inn. Matthew Howard, head of property at Railpen, said: "230 Newmarket Road is the latest of Railpen's investments in Cambridge. "Part of its strategy of supporting the UK's economic and social growth through the clustering of assets in key sectors and locations, it joins Mill Yard, its 180,000-sq-ft (16,700-sq-m) mixed-use campus adjacent to Cambridge rail station, and the nearby Botanic Place, Railpen's 500,000-sq-ft (46,450-sq-m) headquarters office development. "Railpen also has a number of other significant proposed developments in the city, including its 1m-sq-ft (92,900-sq-m) Beehive scheme, which has been called in by the Secretary of State." Follow Cambridgeshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. Shopping centre plans recommended for refusal Government intervenes in Beehive Centre plans Cambridge City Council Railpen
