Science & Technology
CLIENT
CLIENT INDUSTRY
SERVICES PROVIDED
LOCATIONS
SIZE/VALUE
DIVISIONS INVOLVED
DATE
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CHALLENGE
In 2018 Melbourn Science Park Ltd instructed Savills Planning Team in Cambridge to provide planning consultancy advice to secure some 11,000 sqm of new floor space for new office and technology research facilities on land north of Melbourn Science Park. The proposed development lay outside the identified village framework as identified within the adopted Local Plan dated September 2018. Being contrary to policy, the application was advertised as a significant departure to the development plan.
SOLUTION
Savills Cambridge Planning Team advised clients from the outset to make a strong economic and employment case for the development having regard to the high profile of the company, its commitment to the District’s economy within South Cambridgeshire and the importance of that sector within the national picture. The nature of the company (TTP Group plc), its subsidiaries and its connections to Melbourn village were critical factors in securing local support and with a strong professional project team, emphasis was placed on a series of pre-application presentations and meetings including a Public Exhibition to engender support. A key part of the strategy was therefore to engage and advise on early dialogue with senior officers and Members from the outset.
A high quality design was a key component element and the identification of a structured approach to meetings throughout the design process was an integral part of the project.
RESULTS
The Planning Committee of South Cambridgeshire District Council resolved to grant detailed planning permission in December 2018 subject to conditions and the Section 106 agreement. Lengthy negotiations took place with regards to the financial obligations and triggering points within the Section 106 agreement and planning permission was granted in March 2019.
As a result of further design development exercises a significant number of changes were made to the scheme and accordingly a detailed complex Section 73 application was submitted resulting in the issuing of a new decision notice in June 2020. Savills Planning Team are retained to make related planning applications on the site as well as the discharge of relevant planning conditions.
Following the 2019 consent an important value engineering exercise was undertaken and Garth lead the team through a complex resubmission during the period of lockdown and we secured a new consent in June 2020. His attention to detail and providing clear professional assessment in a calm personable manner and in somewhat difficult Covid circumstances has enabled the client to obtain first class advice during such challenging times.
Stephen Pritchard, Melbourn Science Park Ltd