Planning permission has been issued for a new urban country park created around Cherry Hinton Lakes as part of a new innovation district, following the conclusion of a legal agreement ensuring a range of environmental safeguards and community benefits has been completed.

The plans initially endorsed at Cambridge City Council’s planning committee on 19 September 2024 allow for the new country park to be created within the unique parkland setting, blending the site’s past use as a quarry with its future potential as an open and innovative science destination.

There is a long standing planning commitment to bringing the country park into public use. The legal agreement by the developers, published this week, provides a commitment to secure a range of benefits including plans to involve local stakeholders in the development of the new urban country park’s management; and to control risks of groundwater pollution and gas migration from the former quarry pits, with expert independent oversight during construction.  

The September planning committee approved nine new buildings on the site, including new laboratory and office spaces for life science and technology sectors, a sustainable travel hub which will accommodate car and cycle parking requirements, and a community pavilion called The Mixer – which all have high quality building design standards for energy conservation and water efficiency.

The site will add to the range of new office and lab spaces approved in recent years by the Greater Cambridge Shared Planning service, responding to the growing demand from local and international companies looking to make the city their home.

Cllr Katie Thornburrow, Executive Councillor for Planning, Building Control and Infrastructure, said: “I am very pleased that we have been able to resolve the environmental concerns around development of this important site by working with Environmental Health officers and the Environment Agency and welcome the developer's commitment to involve the local community in drawing up the management plan for the area.

“I hope this reassures residents that measures to bring the benefits of a nature-rich country park to this part of the city can be achieved in a sustainable and safe way. This is particularly important following the recent tragedy in which a young person sadly lost their life in the lakes, and I extend my sympathy to all who were affected.

“When this proposal was discussed by the Planning Committee we noted the quality of the proposals, including the new community pavilion and café, open spaces for community events, fitness and play facilities, improvements to existing walking and cycling infrastructure, and the benefits of opening up the lakes as a new urban country park open to the public.

“In addition to the urban park, this development will directly respond to the demand for high quality, flexible R&D space which we know is highly sought in our region and will contribute to strengthening Cambridge’s knowledge-based ecosystem and world-leading reputation in life science research and development. The legal agreement also includes commitments around training and employment during construction, and new jobs for the longer-term – with a commitment for all jobs to pay at least the Real Living Wage.”

A spokesperson for Mission Street said: "We are delighted that the council has now consented our vision for District East, an urban innovation district that will combine world-class R&D facilities with public amenities to bring new life to this underutilised site.

“With the government placing greater emphasis on the Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor and the space requirements needed to cultivate our science and technology sectors, District East will be a significant contributor to the Cambridge ecosystem, whilst delivering a contemporary, inclusive and inviting district for Cambridge.”