In recent news it can be seen that St John’s College has now appointed Turnstone Estates as the development manager for assisting in the delivery of a brand new office, and research and development building at the park’s south gate. The project, the Maurice Wilkes Building will also see Savills and Carter Jonas as the scheme’s letting agents.

To follow from the successful planning application for the building (37,000 square feet in total), another application has now also been submitted to further improve upon the proposal already in place. Should the new proposal receive the green light, the new building will be able to provide a highly inviting HQ opportunity, with the availability of Grade A office space alongside that of space for research and development space (totalling in at some 63,000 square feet). The space also has a notable degree of flexibility, allowing for considerable space customisation as well as multi-occupancy.

The development is expected to be positioned within St John’s Innovation Park, a central hub of innovation and research within the Cambridge R&D cluster. Already playing host to some of the most high-profile and successful technology companies in the world, the space will provide prime position aside other key innovators such as Qualcom, Telstra, Samsung, and the St Johns Innovation Centre itself.

Commenting on the development of the building, Savills Cambridge’s Head of Office, Rob Sadler expressed his recognition of the Innovation Park, then commenting on how the Maurice Wilkes Building will effectively offer more space to allow for the park itself to continue drawing in business for Cambridge itself.

Also providing his thoughts, Turnstone Estates’ Chris Goldsmith showed enthusiasm with the appointment to the development, commenting: “This adds to a collection of joint ventures with landowners spanning many years where we successfully deliver and develop high quality outcomes for our partners.”