As NIAB approaches its centenary celebrations in 2019, it is seeking to improve and modernise the existing Cambridge facilities at Huntingdon Road. Planning permission has already been granted for new facilities at NIAB’s existing field station at Park Farm, Histon, where building will commence in early 2018.
Download the designs for the redevelopment of the site.
The innovative new campus, with offices, state-of-the-art laboratories, growth room facilities and meeting rooms, will be developed to replace the current facilities. It will also provide a base for the Cambridge Centre for Crop Science (3CS).
NIAB is proposing to modernise and expand the research facilities on the site on the north-western end of Lawrence Weaver Road, Cambridge (the buildings including the John Bingham Building, adjacent to Whitehouse Lane and behind the David Wilson Homes development). The original site on Huntingdon Road, including the 1920s building which was expanded in the 1960s and 1980s, will be sold for development, as the business has outgrown the facilities.
The new development reflects NIAB's ambitions and aspirations across the regional, national and international agri-science and business communities. It will help improved collaboration and communication across the NIAB teams and provide improved facilities and flexibility in working spaces.
The Lawrence Weaver Road proposals will involve the demolition of some of the existing buildings, refurbishment of existing offices and laboratories, and the erection of a new three-storey laboratory extension, occupied in partnership with the University of Cambridge as part of the 3CS. The proposals include the construction of a new cycleway running down Whitehouse Lane, from the existing David Wilson Homes to the first phase of the new Darwin Green development (Barratt’s Homes). The entire development will be set in a high quality landscape setting and include the provision of new car parking and servicing arrangements. It is intended that a planning application will be submitted to Cambridge City Council for these proposals shortly.