Skip to main contentCambridge University Reporter

No 6587

Wednesday 29 July 2020

Vol cl No 29

pp. 530–566

Reports

Report of the Council on the construction of a new freezer store at the Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute

The Council begs leave to report to the University as follows:[1]

1. The Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus became a part of the School of Clinical Medicine in 2013. It has identified a need for additional space for ‑80°C freezers. At present, some samples are stored off site. The proposed new freezer store will allow samples to be returned to site, saving money and improving access to the samples.

2. It is anticipated that a future project will repurpose the current freezer store to create much-needed additional laboratory, write‑up and office space.

3. The construction will be an extension to the existing energy centre that is located to the rear of the Institute’s main building.

4. The work will be undertaken in one phase and will create 240m2 gross internal area of new space. The new space will be split over two floors. At ground‑floor level a new radioactive store, a general storage area and a carpenter’s workshop will be created. These will replace facilities currently housed in temporary structures. At first‑floor level there will be two rooms housing freezers and a third room for general laboratory consumables storage. A new lift and stairs will serve the first floor.

5. The estimated cost of the work is £1,644,000 and will be funded by Cancer Research UK.

6. A planning application was submitted in May 2020 in order to keep to the programme for the development of the project whilst the publication of the Reporter was suspended. Subject to the granting of planning permission, it is hoped to commence works in September 2020.

7. A map showing the location of the Institute is provided below. Drawings of the proposed scheme are displayed for the information of the University at https://www.prao.admin.cam.ac.uk/capital-planning/plans-and-drawings.

8.The Council recommends:

I.That approval be given for the construction of a new freezer store for the Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute.

II.That the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Strategy and Planning) be authorised to accept a tender, within the available funding, for the building and all associated works in due course.

1 July 2020

Stephen Toope,Vice-Chancellor

Nicolas Gay

Edward Parker Humphreys

Madeleine Atkins

David Greenaway

Richard Penty

Gaenor Bagley

Jennifer Hirst

Andrew Sanchez

R. Charles

Fiona Karet

Mark Wormald

Stephen J. Cowley

Christopher Kelly

Jocelyn Wyburd

Sharon Flood

Philip Knox

Anthony Freeling

Mark Lewisohn

Footnote

  • [1]This Report was originally published and circulated as an Advance Notice on 1 July 2020 and was listed for Discussion on 14 July 2020 in accordance with a revised Notice of Discussion that was also published as an Advance Notice on 1 July. The Report is reproduced here in accordance with Regulation 2 for the Cambridge University Reporter (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 103); the Discussion remarks and response are published on pp. 566 and 534 respectively.

Location plan: Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute

First-stage Report of the Council on a University of Cambridge Solar Farm at Lord’s Bridge

The Council begs leave to report to the University as follows:

1. In this Report the Council is seeking approval in principle for the construction of a solar farm on University-owned land to the east of Lord’s Bridge, Cambridge Road, Barton.

2. The area of land proposed is Grade 3 farmland currently farmed by a tenant farmer under three separate agreements and a small, vacant, pony field, adjacent to the Mullard Radio Astronomy Observatory. A plan of the site is shown below. The planning application will be for a solar farm of up to 22MW, with the facility to generate up to 11MW being constructed in phase one. If the scheme proceeds, the electricity generated will be supplied, via a private wire connection, to the West Cambridge site to supply University buildings on the site with low-carbon electricity. The plans accommodate the retention of radio telescope structures that cross the proposed site.

3. The University is committed to reducing emissions from fossil fuel consumption and has adopted a Science Based Target to reduce its energy‑related (scope 1 and 2) carbon emissions to absolute zero by 2048 with an aspiration to become zero‑carbon by 2038. A desk‑based survey has calculated that a solar farm of 22MW would generate approximately 22,875,000 kWh per year or 19% of the University’s 2019 electrical consumption (reducing 5,847 tonnes of CO2e1 of emissions from grid‑sourced electricity per year).

4. Constructing an 11MW solar farm in phase one would mean that this electricity would be consumed by the buildings currently on the West Cambridge site without any export to the grid. As more University buildings are developed on the West Cambridge site, these will be connected to the future phases of the solar farm as permitted by the anticipated planning permission.

5. The Finance Committee agreed at its meeting on 8 July 2020 that approval in principle should be sought from the Regent House at this point in the project’s development, so that an application for planning permission could be submitted. Obtaining planning permission for the scheme prior to going out to tender will eliminate a significant project risk. It is also expected to increase competition from solar farm companies for the opportunity to construct, and potentially operate, the farm.

6. If planning permission is granted, an invitation to tender will be issued to the solar industry for the construction of the solar farm. Variant bids may also be sought for the construction and operation of the solar farm. Responses to the tender will be appraised by the Estates and Finance Divisions to determine the most viable option for the University and a recommendation will be made to the Finance Committee. Subject to its approval, a further Report will be published in due course to seek approval to implement the project.

7.The Council recommends:

I.That approval in principle be given for the construction of a solar farm at Lord’s Bridge, Cambridge Road, Barton.

II.That the Director of the Estates be authorised to apply for detailed planning permission in due course.

29 July 2020

Stephen Toope,Vice-Chancellor

Nicholas Gay

Ben Margolis

Madeleine Atkins

David Greenaway

Richard Penty

Gaenor Bagley

Jennifer Hirst

Freddie Poser

R. Charles

Nicholas Holmes

Andrew Sanchez

Stephen J. Cowley

Fiona Karet

Jason Scott-Warren

Aastha Dahal

Christopher Kelly

Mark Wormald

Sharon Flood

Philip Knox

Jocelyn Wyburd

Anthony Freeling

Mark Lewisohn

Footnote

  • 1Carbon dioxide equivalent; this is a method for measuring carbon footprint, based on global warming potential as calculated by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

Location plan: proposed University of Cambridge Solar Farm