Bridgemere submits planning application for Hauxton site

Bridgemere has submitted a planning application for the Cambridge Discovery Campus on the former Bayer Crop Science site.

Bridgemere is working alongside Foundation Capital Ventures, which is promoting this site in its prime Cambridgeshire location at the heart of the region’s life sciences cluster.

The plans for the scheme include substantial lab space and offices, together with an amenity building, and development of the country park. The application will be heard at committee on 6 December 2023.

Following a successful resolution to grant planning permission, the site will undergo an 18-month period of demolition and remediation works before development of the Cambridge Discovery Campus commences in 2025.

Will Heath, CEO of Bridgemere commented:

“Cambridge has rightly established itself as one of the leading life sciences centres in Europe, and with the Cambridge Discovery Campus we have the opportunity to bring forward a high-quality life sciences site that can help to meet the soaring demand for both laboratory and office space in the region.”

The Cambridge Discovery Campus is the second phase in Bridgemere’s remediation and redevelopment of the Hauxton Chemical Works site. Phase one was sold to Redrow Homes with planning permission for 380 new homes.

Artists impression of the Cambridge Discovery Park

 

Steve Morgan 6th on Sunday Times Giving List

Bridgemere Chairman, Steve Morgan CBE has been named as number 6 in the Sunday Times Giving List 2023.

Sunday Times Giving List 2023

The Sunday Times Giving List, in association with the Charities Aid Foundation (CAF), tracks the philanthropic activity of almost a third of 350 of Britain’s wealthiest people. It is based on the proportion of total wealth donated or pledged to charity by those who appear in the Sunday Times Rich List.

Steve Morgan CBE was named number six out of the top 100 this year, having donated an incredible £59.6 million, via the Steve Morgan Foundation.

Collectively, the top 100 gave £3.431 billion – up by more than a billion on last year’s total giving. Seven members of The Sunday Times Rich List gave more than £100 million in the past year, 42 gave £10 million or more, while 90 were members of the £1 million donors club.

Giving money away well

At the age of 21, Steve established Redrow, which grew to be one of the UK’s most successful housebuilders. But despite his obvious success in business, Steve has never forgotten his roots on some of the toughest streets in Liverpool.

It was this desire to give something back that prompted him to set up the Steve Morgan Foundation in 2001 to help bring positive change to the communities closest to his heart and beyond.

He explains: “I am enormously proud to be on the Sunday Times Giving List, not just personally but also on behalf of the team at the Steve Morgan Foundation, who work exceptionally hard not just to give money away, but to give money away well.

“We’re supporting so many great charities to help change the lives of those in greatest need, and we’re committed to working with fantastic partners that share our vision of changing lives for good. I’m proud of and thankful to our staff and trustee team for all their dedicated work.”

The Steve Morgan Foundation

The Steve Morgan Foundation is passionately committed to changing lives for good by working with partners that make a positive difference to those in need. It provides funding, support, expertise and best practice to the charities and organisations it supports and addresses a range of areas including poverty, homelessness, health and wellbeing, and education and training.

Steve continues to prioritise the ongoing support of the Foundation alongside his business interests and has donated more than £300 million to it since 2001.

Bridgemere appoints Robert Duxbury

Experienced construction professional and project manager, Robert Duxbury, has joined Bridgemere as Commercial Director.

Before joining Bridgemere, Rob held senior construction management and project management roles at Sir Robert McAlpine, Lendlease and Laing O’Rourke, leading on a range of projects including at the Imperial War Museum, Liverpool Ports, Brisbane Airport and Vancouver General Hospital.

Most recently, Rob was Managing Director of Lancashire-based sports and leisure specialists, Collinson Construction, having joined as Operations Director in 2018.

As Bridgemere’s Commercial Director, Rob is responsible for a broad spread of commercial and project management work across the group of companies, including overseeing major projects and development work at the award-winning Carden Park Hotel and Spa.

Rob is also responsible for the development of the two new Maggie’s Centres in North Wales and Liverpool that are being funded by the Steve Morgan Foundation, the charitable foundation established in 2001 by the Bridgemere Chairman, Steve Morgan.

Commenting on his appointment, Rob Duxbury said:

“It was clear to me very early on that Bridgemere would be the perfect fit for my skillset and approach – it’s a company with huge drive and ambition but also a strong moral compass and very clear principles in terms of construction. I am looking forward to working with the team as we continue to develop the group’s assets and progress the many and varied projects.”

Bridgemere CEO, Will Heath added:

“We’re delighted that Rob has joined the Bridgemere team at what is a very exciting time for the business. He brings a fresh perspective as well as valuable experience of managing large-scale and complex developments across a range of industries.”