Consultation runs from: 1 December 2025 9:00am - 30 January 2026 5:00pm
S/RSC/FSS: Former Spicers Site, Sawston Business Park, Sawston
• Site area of 21.78 hectares
• Capacity for approximately 40,000 square metres gross internal area of employment floorspace including research and development E(g)(ii) floorspace with the potential for additional floorspace in future phases subject to future exploration of capacity including evidence of suitable site access.
1.
proposals must demonstrate how they will meet the following requirements:
a. Design-based mitigation is required to avoid potential adverse impacts on designated heritage assets. Informed by a Landscape Visual Impact Assessment and
including:
i. No development on of the parts of Borough Hill Scheduled Monument within the site, and robust landscape buffers and screening around the asset to reduce the effects of development on the asset.
ii. Minimising building heights to avoid interrupting views between Borough Hill and Wandlebury Camp to the north.
iii. Careful consideration on the size, mass, height, and design of built form to ensure minimal visual harm on the Scheduled Monument and non-designated assets.
iv. Implementation of an archaeological management plan including interpretation and community outreach.
v. Given the known significant potential for archaeological remains in this area, development proposals must be accompanied by an appropriate archaeological assessment, which includes information on the significance of the heritage asset, including the extent, character and condition of the archaeological resource and the likely impact of the development on the archaeological remains.
b. Safe and adequate road access into the site including junction improvements to the A1301 following engagement with the Highways Authority;
c. Contribute financially to strategic public transport and active travel schemes in the south east corridor appropriate to the scale and nature of the development, including active travel links to Sawston and Shelford;
d.
must address known surface water flooding risks through a comprehensive water management plan;
e.
must ensure there are no adverse impacts to the River Granta or Dernford Fen SSSI, either through construction or occupation phases;
f. Trees on the site that are protected by a Tree Preservation Order must be retained and incorporated into the design and layout of any development proposal; and
g. The on-site provision of employee amenities commensurate to the scale of the development.
Supporting information
This 22-hectare site provides an opportunity to redevelop a vacant brownfield site and turn it into research and development laboratory space with associated employee amenities. The site is identified in the adopted 2018 South Cambridgeshire and had planning permission (S/0158/20/FL) which is now lapsed and therefore the principle of development has already been established. This development could provide an important contribution to the local economy by providing around 50,000 square metres of employment floorspace.
The site partially contains a Scheduled Ancient Monument as well as a number of non- designated archaeological assets. The policy reflects the importance of these assets and how development will need to be heritage led in order to protect, and where possible, enhance these assets and their setting. The site is also within close proximity to the River Granta, a County Wildlife Site, Dernford Fen SSSI and contains protected trees and the policy identifies that development, at all stages, must ensure there are no adverse impacts to these important features.
The site contains several areas of surface water flooding and this will need to be addressed as part of a comprehensive, site wide, management plan.
Access to the site is constrained and therefore engagement with the Highways Authority will be required to ensure safe and adequate access into the site by people and vehicles. Improvements will be required to the active travel network in this area to reduce the reliance on people travelling to the site by private vehicle.
Tell us what you think
We will consider all comments while developing the next version of the .
All comments must be received by 30 January 2026 at 5pm.