New Incubator building for Alconbury Campus

A second Incubator building is planned for Alconbury's Enterprise Campus to respond to strong business demand to be part of the growing business community at the Government-backed Enterprise Zone.

Located on the main tree-lined access to Alconbury Weald, the building will sit alongside the Incubator and Club buildings and provide flexible office and grow-on space around well-connected communal areas. Businesses will have access to meeting rooms within the neighbouring facilities of the Campus’ award-winning Incubator building and The Club, which offers meeting and event space, a Café and Gym

A planning application for the building was submitted just before Christmas and it is hoped building work will start later in the Spring. A number of businesses are already in discussion with site owners Urban&Civic about taking up space in the building which should be available from January 2018.

The building has been designed with a flexible floorplan to ensure the immediate and future needs of tenants can be realised. The two-storey building can be subdivided to accommodate a broad range of businesses with the initial designs offering space from 350 sq m (3,773 sq ft).

Tim Leathes, Development Director at Urban&Civic said:

"With the first Incubator building filling up just two months after opening in 2014, and a growing waiting list, we know we have demand from businesses to be based here. As well as appealing to small and start up businesses, the flexible design will provide opportunities for our existing tenants looking to expand; allowing them to continue to grow at the Enterprise Zone and free up space for new tenants in the original Incubator.”

Designed by Allford Hall Monahan Morris (AHMM), architects of the award-winning Incubator, and The Club, the building will complement these buildings in design approach, form and character.

The proposed building has been designed with a strong sustainability focus and the efficient use of resources such as water and energy will be ensured through a variety of methods including natural ventilation, a solar shading canopy and photovoltaic panels. In addition, links to pedestrian and cycle routes, a covered cycle store, public transport and a Green Travel Plan will encourage new tenants to use sustainable modes of transport.

Tim Leathes explained:  "We have worked hard on a flexible design that can change over time to reflect tenant requirements, but that also fits in with the strong building and landscape aesthetic we have invested in so far.

"With 1 million square foot of commercial space being built out this year, some large companies moving in and the new skills centre iMET in construction, this building is part of the Campus vision of supporting and connecting the innovation and entrepreneurship of the local area with the potential to grow.

“The Campus is a good location for making connections: whether that's with like-minded companies on site; transport links to the Midlands, London, or across the region; or our jobs, skills and business support from our local Economic Development partners. This new building opens up the chance for more companies to come and grow with us.”

For more information about Alconbury Campus or the proposals for the building, please call 01480 413141.