Fuller Peiser - General Development - Hinxton, Wellcome Trust Genome Campus
Date: 16 Apr 2002
The Wellcome Trust today (12 April) submitted an outline planning application to South Cambridgeshire District Council to build an extension at its Wellcome Trust Genome Campus at Hinxton. The proposal will extend the leading genome centre to include a post genomic research facility for academic and industry scientists.
The proposed 27,000 sq m development will build on the work conducted on the existing Genome Campus by the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, which is renowned worldwide for its pivotal role in the Human Genome Project - an international venture that sequenced the genes in the human body.
The proposed extension will provide cutting-edge academic research facilities for the Sanger Institute as it progresses from sequencing the human genome to discovering what genes do. It will also include an Innovation Centre for genomics start-up companies and space for grow-on companies seeking to expand.
Dr Mike Dexter, Director of the Wellcome Trust, said: "Throughout the 1990's the Sanger Institute kept the UK at the forefront of world science through our role in the Human Genome Project. We want to maintain this leadership position and at the same time ensure the translation of good science into good health. To do this, we need to create opportunities for collaboration with industry. Our vision is to create a vibrant campus which co-locates business and academia and propels new research and development."
Dr Allan Bradley, Director of the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, said: "There is an enormous amount of information encoded in our DNA but before we can jump to developing healthcare products we have to understand how our genes function. This requires additional resources and expertise and these will inevitably require more space.
"An extended campus will enable us to expand our research portfolio and work alongside industry to develop new medical advances. This will not only maintain our position as a world leader in genomics research, but enable us to make a real contribution to global health."
John Bowles, partner of Fuller Peiser, Planning and Property Advisors, said: “This will undoubtedly be a high quality scheme. I hope that the community will support this application to allow the Trust to bring forward this important development recognised as being in the national interest.”
If approved by South Cambridgeshire District Council, construction of the extension will be phased over five years. The first stage will be the academic building and ancillary facilities, followed by the Innovation Centre, and the Grow-on space.
Fuller Peiser is the planning and property advisor to the Wellcome Trust.
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