Reports

Second-stage Report of the Council on the alteration and redevelopment of the Hutchison Building on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus site

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

1. A First-stage Report on the project to alter and redevelop the Hutchison Building on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus was submitted to the Regent House on 28 February 2024 and approved by Grace 1 of 24 April 2024 (Reporter, 2023–24: 6732, p. 419; 6737, p. 503). This Second-stage Report is to inform the Regent House about further development of the scheme and to seek approval for construction to proceed.

2. The Hutchison Building opened in 2001 to provide accommodation for a Centre for Cancer Research, with emphasis on translational research, drawing on the existing MRC and University research groups working in Cambridge. As reported previously, the building is now struggling to keep pace with current scientific and clinical needs. It was designed in two distinct operational halves and is therefore inflexible and inefficient in its use of space. Refurbishment will allow the building to be reconfigured to provide the UK with the first National Institute for early cancer research. This will further establish Cambridge as a world-leader in this important field, in line with the University’s major scientific focus as part of the CRUK Major Centre at Cambridge.

3. The Hutchison Building1 sits on the Island site on the Biomedical Campus close to the main Hills Road entrance roundabout, which is the location of several key research and teaching buildings for the Clinical School. The works are principally internal, comprising of densifying use of the building by integrating separate spaces and repurposing redundant facilities. A modest increase in occupancy before decanting has resulted in a utilisation change from 34m²/person to 20.3m²/person; refinements of the design as the project has developed means the anticipated usage has changed from the previously reported 19m²/person to 17.5m²/person. The works will also update the wet lab facilities, change people flow internally and externally to improve health and safety, and enclose an undercroft to make collaboration space and improved goods-in flow.

4. In addition, the works to the building, which is currently one of the University’s most profligate carbon emitters per square metre, will eliminate the use of gas. This step, together with improved energy efficiency measures, is estimated to save 320 tCO2e/year. Further information is now available on the limited changes to the external appearance of the building. These are a new front entrance extension, increased cycle parking, an enclosed bin/recycling area, an external louvered plant enclosure at roof level (to house the new equipment required to transfer away from gas power), and the building name to be visible from Hills Road and Adrian Way.

5. The estimated capital cost of the project is £24.1m. The capital costs will be funded as follows: a donation of £11m from the HS Chau Foundation, £12.5m from the University’s Investment Fund, and £600k from the Department of Oncology.

6. The Full Business Case for the project was approved by the Planning and Resources Committee on 29 January 2025.

7. The Council recommends:

I. That approval be given for the works outlined in this Report.

II. That the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Resources and Operations) be authorised to accept a tender for the works, within the available funding, in due course.

25 February 2025