Bruntwood SciTech is investing £11m in Melbourn Science Park near Cambridge, refurbishing more than 22,000 sq ft of office and research accommodation while improving facilities across the established technology campus.
The programme will upgrade workspace at Ash House and Beech House, introduce a gym, and improve landscaping and electric vehicle charging infrastructure. The redevelopment is intended to accommodate businesses requiring a combination of research facilities, technical workspace, and conventional offices.
Melbourn Science Park occupies a 17-acre site approximately nine miles south of Cambridge. Existing occupiers include technology consultancy TTP and biotechnology company Cellular Origins, alongside other businesses involved in scientific research, engineering, and technology development.
The planned improvements concentrate on adapting the existing buildings to accommodate a wider range of commercial requirements. Ash House will offer office and research suites of up to 4,500 sq ft, available in different levels of completion depending on the needs of prospective occupiers.
Beech House will provide up to 19,000 sq ft of accommodation suitable for offices and research and development work. Businesses will be able to select open-plan space or fitted and furnished suites, allowing the accommodation to be adapted to the size and requirements of individual teams.
Both buildings are expected to be ready for occupation during winter 2026. The investment will also improve shared facilities, including meeting rooms, kitchens, secure access arrangements, and connectivity.
Technical improvements include private fibre connectivity, updated air-conditioning, and energy-efficient lighting. Bruntwood SciTech expects the work to contribute to an EPC B energy performance rating for the refurbished accommodation.
Selected areas will also provide facilities supporting laboratory activities, including gas storage suitable for certain lower-containment research requirements. These arrangements extend the potential range of occupiers beyond businesses requiring standard office accommodation.
The redevelopment reflects the mixed requirements of many technology and life sciences companies. Research teams may require specialist facilities, while product development, administrative, commercial, and management employees need conventional workspaces within the same organisation.
Combining those functions on one campus can support collaboration between technical and non-technical teams. It also allows growing businesses to adjust their use of space as they add employees, develop new projects, or change the balance between research and commercial activity.
Additional facilities will be introduced elsewhere on the site. A new gym is planned for Glade House, while charging infrastructure and landscaped communal areas will be improved across the campus.
The redevelopment also includes changes to the names of several buildings. Existing structures identified as Buildings F, G, and H will become Field House, Glade House, and Hazel House respectively.
The current Talking Point event facility will be renamed Linden Suites, providing meeting and event accommodation for science park occupiers and external organisations. Its facilities will include a lecture theatre and meeting space.
Bruntwood SciTech is a joint venture between Bruntwood, Legal & General, and Greater Manchester Pension Fund. Its wider portfolio includes city-centre innovation hubs and science and technology campuses serving startups, scaleups, and established businesses.
The Melbourn programme forms part of that property and innovation portfolio, with investment directed towards existing buildings rather than relying solely on new development.
The refurbished accommodation is expected to become available during the coming winter, adding updated research, technical, and office space to a campus already occupied by engineering and biotechnology businesses.
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