Norwich Research Park Masterplan

Public consultation on a new masterplan for the expansion of Norwich Research Park starts today in advance of a planning application expected to be submitted in June.

The Norwich Research Park is a collaboration between the University of East Anglia, the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals, and four independent research centres; the John Innes Centre, the Institute of Food Research, the Sainsbury Laboratory and The Genome Analysis Centre. It is currently home to over 30 science and IT based companies making one of Europe’s largest single-site concentrations of research in health, food and environmental sciences.

This masterplan is a major expansion to the research park, which specialises in biotechnology and biological research.

The new masterplan by BDP will include a Centrum hub building, also designed by BDP, laboratory facilities and infrastructure which seeks to reinforce and where appropriate, extend established landscape belts while at the same time creating strong physical and spatial links to the adjacent NRP.

The masterplan will enable development that could support 5,000 new jobs in the Greater Norwich area over the next 20 years, will attract organisations who want to take advantage of the world class research base.

The project is funded by a £26m government grant to the Norwich Research Park through the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council to stimulate new businesses and create jobs. It is being developed Norwich Research Park LLP. This masterplan has been prepared in consultation with the masterplanners of the adjacent land to the south and west, currently being developed by Bullen Developments Ltd for Norfolk & Norwich University Hospitals.

The consultation will provide an opportunity to view and comment on the designs and meet the design teams and park staff.