Wellcome has submitted an outline planning application for the growth of the Wellcome Genome Campus at Hinxton, south of Cambridge, to South Cambridgeshire District Council.

The Wellcome Genome Campus is home to world leading research institutes, the Wellcome Sanger Institute and the EMBL-European Bioinformatics Institute, whose groundbreaking research in genomics and computational biology have delivered scientific insights which have changed the course of biology and medicine.

The campus vision is to build on these strong research foundations to become the international centre for activities emanating from genomes and biodata. To achieve this ambition the campus needs to expand on land to the east of the A1301 at Hinxton.

Wellcome say the masterplan - which incudes 150,000sqm of employment space and 1500 homes - sets a development framework for a 21st century science and innovation community.

The scheme also promotes a shuttle link to Whittlesford station, as well as enhanced bus services and improved walking and cycling connections. Well-planned public spaces and community facilities will be an essential element of the masterplan to encourage collaboration, as well as attracting the best global talent.

Wellcome say there has already been significant interest from a range of organisations and businesses who see significant advantage in being co-located close to existing research facilities and within the growing genomics campus eco-system.

Wellcome has submitted an Outline Planning Application which sets out the framework for the future development of the site through a series of parameters and strategies but not the detail of individual buildings. The illustrative masterplan has been produced to represent how the framework could be delivered.

The outline planning application seeks to establish the parameters within which future buildings can come forward, including the height, scale and the amount of different uses being proposed.

Initial works undertaken on the site are expected to include advanced planting in specific locations agreed with the local planning authority in order to minimise the visual impact of the proposed development.

The plans would triple the size of the space available for employment, conferencing and other facilities. A public consultation has now been launched.

The site currently has around 75,000sqm of employment space and conferencing facilities, and the proposal includes plans for 150,000sqm of new employment floorspace which could help create around 4,300 new jobs. There would also be up to 1,500 new homes for campus-based employees, a nursery for up to 120 children; a fitness centre; a health centre; a community hall and a cultural facility; a conference centre with up to 175 bedrooms; shops and food and drink outlets, together with public open spaces including a central common, allotments, sports and play areas.

The campus is proposed to be opened up to provide public access, which would enable surrounding communities to use a range of open space and facilities.

South Cambridgeshire District Council’s Lead Cabinet Member for Planning, Cllr Dr. Tumi Hawkins, said: “These are ambitious proposals from a significant employer in South Cambridgeshire and so it is vital to fully understand what they would mean for the local area and the district as a whole. It’s an interesting proposal bringing together jobs and homes for staff, but it’s particularly important we examine the impact that approving these plans would have on the surrounding countryside and roads in the area.”