DECEMBER 2015 ALDERLEY PARK THE FUTURE AS A WORLD-CLASS LIFE SCIENCE FACILITY PLANNING APPLICATION SUMMARY DOCUMENT Alderley Park is a world-class Life Science research and development (R&D) facility. The site currently houses around 190,000 sq m of premier scientific laboratory space, offices, restaurants, cafes, conferencing space and energy plant, set in 400 acres of parkland. As a centre for scientific research, it is one of the few facilities in the country with a comprehensive offering to support drug discovery and development. It was AstraZeneca’s global lead centre for cancer research, employing at its peak up to 10,000 people in highly skilled jobs. These facilities at Alderley Park are high-quality A planning application has been submitted to and high-tech, and require significant ongoing Cheshire East Council for future development investment to retain them. £550 million has been at Alderley Park. The planning application invested in Alderley Park since 1997 and further, has been allocated the reference number major investment is required to repurpose the site 15/5401M. from single to multi-occupier use, maintain the facilities and cover ongoing overheads. This summary document sets out the key elements of the proposals. ILLUSTRATIVE MASTERPLAN SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT PROPOSED OVER THE NEXT 10 YEARS In March 2013, AstraZeneca announced The site was purchased by Bruntwood/MSP, its decision to relocate its R&D facilities to part of Alderley Park Ltd who now wish to Cambridge, leading to uncertainty over the secure the future of the site, retaining talent and future of Alderley Park and its role in the local jobs, by taking forward the Taskforce’s vision. economy, contributing around £245 million per Bruntwood/MSP has committed to significant annum. investment over the next 10 years, to create an internationally important bioscience campus, The Alderley Park Taskforce was established by re-purposing the site for use by a community MERESIDE to consider the implications of AstraZeneca’s of large and small, regional, national and CAMPUS relocation and how best to secure sustainable international high-quality bio and Life Science high-value employment and investment here. companies, securing as many as 7,000 jobs in the future. The Taskforce published a Development Prospectus in December 2013, which set the strategy and vision for the site. PARKLAND OUR PLANNING APPLICATION The planning application for the site has n Up to 275 new homes (some of which been prepared in line with the Alderley Park may be retirement homes) in a high-quality Development Framework and the emerging living environment, capturing the heritage and Cheshire East Local Plan Strategy (CELPS), characteristics of the former country estate which allocates Alderley Park as an ‘Opportunity and parkland setting. The housing will help Site’ seeking to promote and encourage the to pump prime the necessary investment development of the Life Science Park. required for the science campus. As long-term custodians and owners of the site, n A new village hub, offering complementary Bruntwood/MSP are committed to realising this uses such as a village shop, gastro pub and vision through sensitive development, taking hotel. SOUTH CAMPUS account of the site’s historical context and character. n New sport and recreation uses that will be available to the local community for the first The proposals will deliver: time. The local community will be able to use the existing footpaths, woodland and heritage n 38,000 sq m of additional high-quality Life parkland, which will create links to the Science floorspace supporting the growth of surrounding public footpath and bridleway Life Science R&D within the Mereside Campus, network, through National Trust land around which could secure as many as 7,000 jobs in Alderley Edge. the future. HIGH-QUALITY DESIGN SOUTH CAMPUS South Campus will provide a new residential community, carefully integrated with a number of associated REFLECTING ALDERLEY PARK’S and ancillary commercial uses such as a village shop, hotel, restaurant and pub, within the main historic SPECIAL CHARACTER courtyard. To deliver the Taskforce’s vision for Alderley Park, we have created a masterplan for future n South Campus will focus around village living, n A series of communal spaces in the form of development which captures the charm and fascination of Alderley Park, creating a sustainable and building on the unique qualities of Alderley walled gardens and courtyards will offer special place for living, working and enjoying this unique setting. Park to create a place where people aspire to residents additional outdoor space. This live. will allow for informal play and relaxation, encourage social interaction and help foster n The housing will centre around the historic the development of the village community. ILLUSTRATIVE MASTERPLAN heart of the site, using exceptional design The wider historic estate, parkland and quality to integrate seamlessly with the rural woodland spaces become the landscape character, landscape and heritage of the site. within which residents can walk, play, exercise, or just relax. n South Campus will be guided by a strong community ethos, with small scale local n Up to 275 new homes, hotel, village shop and facilities, plus sport and leisure facilities within pub. walking distance, in spectacular surroundings. ILLUSTRATIVE MASTERPLAN Mereside is where the proposed employment uses are to be focused. The proposals will retain the good quality buildings, whilst removing and redeveloping those of poorer quality. This will create a better relationship between the existing and proposed buildings and more open character within the Life Science Park. n Plans for Mereside introduce a series of n The public realm at Mereside will form an interlinking zones and spaces with different extension of the historic landscape setting, characteristics, creating areas where people providing attractive streets and spaces. can break out of the work environment and socialise, be active or seek peace and n The existing car park to the northwest of tranquillity. Mereside will be retained as permanent surface car parking to meet the needs of the n New development here will create a seamless site, as set out in the Car Parking Management extension to the existing built form. Strategy submitted with the planning Refurbishment and replacement of building application. stock provides an opportunity to upgrade those buildings which currently fall short of n A total of 38,000 sq m of new high-quality the high-quality standard. office and R&D accommodation. ILLUSTRATIVE MASTERPLAN ILLUSTRATIVE MASTERPLAN Grass recreational area capable of accommodating a SPORT & RECREATION full sized football pitch Over 170 acres of woodland and parkland will become publicly accessible for the existing and new Pedestrian/ Cycle link to Mereside community to enjoy. Recreational uses could include: Existing woodland New parking area & Junior grass n New walking, running and cycle routes – a New signage, wayfinding and information points entrance space football pitch & outfield area range of new pathway routes will be created could support these uses and connect to the main New Grass Pitch to serve the new campus, these could offer sports hubs. 3 court ‘Multi-use’ Additional outfield a range of circular routes between 1km and sports areas layout 78x37m 4km. Where existing sports facilities need to be New Pedestrian/ Retained outer relocated, high-quality new facilities will be re- New Sports Hub Cycle link to cricket pitch Village Building with new central n Informal outdoor spaces focused on health provided (shown opposite). These will be publicly approx. 25x80m artificial wicket Pedestrian/ Cycle (2000m2) and wellbeing – outdoor gyms, trim trails, and accessible to the wider community for the first link to Village forming buffer to residential areas Retained clubhouse fitness stations. time. New double cricket cage + wickets New parking area Existing & entrance space woodland Opening up Alderley KEY BENEFITS Park to the communty ECONOMIC n A significant level of public access will be n The proposed Life Science floorspace and provided to the existing historic parklands, NETHER ALDERLEY other commercial uses will support major woodlands, waterbodies and other natural employment opportunities and could features of the site, making an important create up to 7,000 full-time equivalent contribution to the health and wellbeing of jobs. This will increase the number of the local community. Sports facilities will employees in the district by around 4% with also be re-provided and enhanced. a significant proportion being higher skilled n WOODLAND Exceptionally high standards of design will and higher value jobs. create a development where people aspire n The proposed residential development will to live and work. generate significant New Homes Bonus and Council Tax revenue. FARM n The development will provide a boost to ENVIRONMENTAL n construction employment in Cheshire East The proposed development contributes towards the protection, enhancement and HERITAGE PARKLAND by 5%, as well as generating expenditure enjoyment of the natural, built and historic CENTRAL VILLAGE HUB to support local businesses and the wider supply chain. environment. n The enhanced landscaping proposals will provide additional ecological habitats. SOCIAL In addition, the high-quality landscaping n Residential development of up to 275 new strategy will ensure the development is SOUTHERN CRICKET HUB homes on the site