Role on huge life sciences scheme follows departure of previous masterplanner Arup
Allies and Morrison has been appointed to review the masterplan for a huge expansion of the Wellcome Genome Campus in Cambridgeshire following the departure of the site’s former masterplanner Arup.
The life sciences campus in Hinxton is currently undergoing major investment with plans to more than triple its size from 125 to 440 acres.
But Wellcome has said it is now working with Allies and Morrison to “review the whole campus” as part of an “evolution of its masterplan to establish a long-term framework”.
The organisation said it was unable to share specifics of what will change in the new masterplan but it will encompass the existing campus, which was not previously included. Allies and Morrison said its core role as masterplanner was to “shape a clear vision for the future of the campus”.
Wellcome confirmed that Arup, which devised the original masterplan for the scheme approved in 2020, was no longer working on the project.
Wellcome’s chief executive Robert Evans said: “The focus is on creating a thriving, connected community, for scientists, data innovators, entrepreneurs, local residents and others.
He added: “As part of this, we want to evolve our secure, gated campus into an open, welcoming place and destination. This means progressively taking away the existing barriers and gates and opening the campus to everyone.”
The first phase of the expansion is already underway with two buildings designed by Gensler currently under construction and due to open in 2028.
The wider scheme is set to include new research buildings, new homes, health and fitness spaces, food and drink spaces, new parks and gardens and community space.
Occupiers already on the existing campus include the Wellcome Sanger Institute and the European Bioinformatics Institute, with the new Health Data Research Service set to move in later this year.
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