Cambridge Business Park plans submitted

Plans for a major revamp of a city's business park have been formally submitted.

The Crown Estate wants to transform Cambridge Business Park, off Milton Road, into a site that could include up to 500 homes and about 173,500 sq m (43 acres) of employment space.

The number of homes built depends on an "odour zone" from a nearby sewage works. A previous city council meeting heard that about 70% of the area was covered by the zone, which could limit construction.

Matthew Sampson, from The Crown Estate, said the site would "create new jobs, provide spaces for start ups to grow, and provide a strong offer for established innovation businesses looking for new premises in this vibrant location".

He added: "Our outline masterplan application serves as a blueprint for achieving these aims for the park's future, proposing a mixed-use development that supports purpose-driven innovation and opens up the park to local people with a variety of shops, restaurants and amenities."

Plans to relocate Anglian Water's Cambridge treatment works were cancelled in August, after the Ministry of Housing ruled the scheme was unaffordable.

The papers submitted to Cambridge City Council for the business park suggested if the odour zone was to remain there would be between 210 and 315 homes built, but up to 500 could be constructed if it was not in place.

Commercial buildings of up to nine storeys and residential blocks of up to 12 storeys have also been proposed.

The plans also include the demolition of existing buildings across the business park on a phased basis, but some may be retained or refurbished instead.

The Crown Estate is an independent company that belongs to the monarch for the duration of their reign, with a £16bn portfolio of property that spans the country.

Its profit is delivered to the Treasury, which decides the annual payment to the King, known as the Sovereign Grant.

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