Work underway on SCSC development

Mark Glatman’s Abstract Securities’ associated company, Abstract Mid-Tech, has speculatively started work on site at the first phase of a development aimed at life sciences and biotechnology occupiers, named South Cambridge Science Centre (SCSC).The first building to be delivered at the Science Centre, a three-storey R&D development of about 145,000 sq ft with parking for 269 cars and 225 bicycles, will be completed and fully operational by early 2025.A subsequent phase comprising an additional 45,000 sq ft building is planned as part of a repositioning of the wider Dales Manor Estate into a new life sciences destination in Cambridge.SCSC, which received detailed planning consent in March 2023, is being developed on a brownfield site in Sawston, which offers easy access from Cambridge city centre and sits close to Babraham Research Park, Granta Park and Unity Campus – an established cluster of South Cambridge life science, biotechnology, pharmaceutical and research occupiers.The new building will be Net Zero Carbon in operation; BREEAM ‘Excellent’ and offer an EPC rating of ‘A’.Mark Glatman, chief executive of Abstract, said: “Having been granted detailed planning consent, we are delighted to have now started on site to create much needed new science and technology lab space within the South Cambridge Cluster.”Furthermore, our very low land price means we can create top quality accommodation at a much lower rental than competing developments across the Cambridge market.”South Cambridge Science Centre is in an established region of Cambridge where the availability of quality laboratories is extremely limited, whilst there is huge demand from fast growing companies in this sector. Tight land supply and a complex planning regime has contributed to this lack of supply and so we anticipate that delivering our speculative development to this market will be very well received.”Christopher McPherson, development director of Abstract Securities, added: “To our knowledge, no other building in the Cambridge market has higher environmental standards than SCSC.”Given the requirement for world-class yet affordable laboratory space in the area, we anticipate high demand for SCSC, which will be available for occupation in around 16 months in early 2025 and we are in early discussions with several organisations who recognise the need to move early to satisfy their growth ambitions. We are also developing designs for the next phase of development and would envisage submitting planning shortly.”Michael Laird is architect for the development and Bowmer & Kirkland is main contractor.DTRE, Bidwells, and JLL are retained letting agents for the South Cambridge Science Centre.