Cambridge planners back Breakthrough’s Vitrum Building

Cambridge planners have recommended for approval the proposed transformation of the Vitrum Building, on St John’s Innovation Park, to the north-east of the city centre. The future of the high-density lab scheme, proposed by Breakthrough Properties, a joint venture between investors Tishman Speyer and Bellco Capital, is expected to be decided at the council’s next planning meeting on 15 November. In April this year, the jv proposed to redevelop the existing 44,000 sq ft Vitrum office block into a 132,588 sq ft research and development facility. The move followed the acquisition of the two-acre site in April 2022 for £25m. The decision on the project was expected to be made in September this year but was pushed back as the planning committee sought extra time to review last-minute amendments submitted by the developer. The changes to the scheme came amid concerns raised during the consultation period with regard to an “overdevelopment” of the site. As such, Breakthrough updated the initial scheme by reducing the number of car parking spaces from 102 to 99, relocating cycle parking from the basement to the ground floor, moving the main entrance and lobby to the northern facade and allocating more space to green terraces. To send feedback, e-mail evelina.grecenko@eg.co.uk or tweet @Gre_Eve or @EGPropertyNews Discover which agents have been most active in Cambridge so far this year >> Image from Breakthrough Properties, courtesy of Rubenstein