The Crown Estate has revealed ambitious plans to breathe new life into Cambridge Business Park with a pilot project focused on transforming an empty office block into a state-of-the-art innovation hub. Robinson House, formerly occupied by Ernst and Young, will be the first step in a wider masterplan aiming to deliver over 4,000 new jobs, 250 homes, and new community spaces.
Developers briefed local councillors from Cambridge City Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council last Wednesday on the proposals, which centre around creating a building named ‘Origin’. This hub will feature refurbished office space, extended reception areas with single-storey extensions, and a new modular laboratory building constructed on part of the existing car park.
Beyond workspace, the plan incorporates a café and events space, addressing a current lack of public amenities within the business park. Notably, the design also includes an “urban farm” on the building’s roof, dedicated to plant cultivation.
The building is envisioned as a temporary facility, with an expected lifespan of 10 to 15 years before being redeveloped as part of the complete business park overhaul. The modular laboratory units, however, are designed for re-use.
Councillors raised questions during the briefing, with concerns expressed about parking provisions for the events space and the possibility of keeping animals on the urban farm – which the Crown Estate clarified will be dedicated to plant growth. Plans also outline utilising existing parking elsewhere on the park during peak events.
The Crown Estate hopes Origin will serve as a template for future developments within the business park, piloting ideas for community engagement and sustainability that can be applied to the wider masterplan. The project aims to make Cambridge Business Park a thriving hub for innovation while contributing positively to the local community and addressing critical environmental challenges.
