A planning application has been submitted for a proposed £120 million aviation technology campus at IWM Duxford in South Cambridgeshire, dedicated to developing low and zero-carbon aircraft technology and supporting the next generation of aviation innovation.
HBD, part of Henry Boot, is progressing the Duxford AvTech scheme in partnership with IWM Duxford and Gonville and Caius College, a constituent college of the University of Cambridge.
Duxford AvTech is a proposed aviation technology campus comprising 425,000 sq ft of high-specification “mid-tech” research, development and manufacturing space set within an attractive landscaped environment. The proposals comprise a series of flexible mid-tech buildings alongside new public realm, green spaces and walking and cycling routes. The campus is designed to provide the specialist facilities and infrastructure needed to support the growth of aviation technology businesses and their supply chains.
By providing the specialist facilities and infrastructure needed to move from research and development into commercial production, Duxford AvTech is designed to help aviation technology businesses and their supply chains grow in the UK.
Located alongside IWM Duxford’s historic airfield and in close proximity to the University of Cambridge’s Whittle Laboratory, the campus will benefit from access to IWM Duxford’s Civil Aviation Authority airstrip. The Director of the Whittle Laboratory at the University of Cambridge has written in strong support of the proposals, highlighting the opportunity to bring together Cambridge’s research expertise and talent with the facilities and runway access required by aviation businesses.
The planning application also includes a detailed application for Phase 1B, comprising 35,000 sq ft of space within a single building, divided into five units of 7,000 sq ft each.
Hamer Boot, Managing Director at HBD, said: “Submitting the planning application is an important step forward for Duxford AvTech. We have worked closely with our partners to develop proposals that respond to the needs of the aviation technology sector and provide the right environment for businesses to grow.
“By bringing together specialist research, development and manufacturing space with access to an airstrip and Cambridge’s world-leading research expertise, the campus has the potential to make a significant contribution to the future of aviation technology in the UK.”
In addition to the 425,000 sq ft Duxford AvTech campus, plans are progressing for a new 105,000 sq ft IWM Lab, which is being delivered separately by IWM.
The new building will support specialist conservation work, provide training and apprenticeships, and offer guided tours and open days to help the public better understand how historic aircraft and artefacts are preserved.
IWM recently announced more than £10 million of new funding for IWM Lab, including a grant of up to £10 million from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and support from Bloomberg Philanthropies. A further £15 million is needed to fully fund the project, with IWM continuing its fundraising campaign.