Campus employees, partners, and members of the local community gathered to celebrate the milestone on Wednesday 25 March, to signal the start of the next chapter for the world-leading science and technology hub.

The Campus is already a globally recognised centre for genomics, biodata, health data and data science. It is currently home to leading organisations including the Wellcome Sanger Institute and EMBL’s European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI), with the UK’s new Health Data Research Service arriving soon. The expansion plans will see the Campus increase in size from 125 to around 440 acres. Supported by the Wellcome Trust, the first phase of the expansion represents one of the largest current investments in the UK’s life sciences and technology infrastructure.

Set to be completed by early 2028, the first phase will see the arrival of state-of-the-art lab-enabled workspaces, 83 homes for Campus workers, innovative microgrid power and ambient loop heating networks and two bridges to connect the expansion site with the existing Campus.

There will also be a new health and fitness club, food and drink venues and green spaces with padel courts and playground facilities for Campus workers, their families and the local community to enjoy.

The work will be delivered in partnership with some of the region’s and country’s leading construction firms. SDC are first on site with delivery of 160,000 sq. ft lab-enabled workspace buildings. Later in the year, we will see the start on site of new bridges, to bring both sides of the campus together, a new health and fitness club, and homes.

Once full works are complete, the expanded Campus could support a community of up to 9,000 people, creating new opportunities for jobs, research, translation and technology across South Cambridgeshire and the wider region.

Robert Evans, Chief Executive of the Wellcome Genome Campus, said: “Breaking ground today marks an important milestone for the Campus, and it was fantastic to celebrate it alongside colleagues, partners and members of the local community. These plans have been years in the making, so it’s exciting to see ground works start.

He added: “This expansion is about so much more than new buildings – it’s about creating a destination for people in and around the area, with new homes, green spaces, and community facilities that are open to all. We want to build a Campus that is open, collaborative, and connected to the local area, while continuing to play a global role in shaping the future of bioscience and technology.”