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What is next for the Grafton Centre?

Aimee DexterCambridgeshire
BBC The glass-fronted main entrance to the Grafton Centre, with "the grafton" written in blue writing, there are people milling about outside.BBC
The site is still home to big brands like H&M, Boots and Decathlon

The first phase of a project to transform a city shopping centre is expected to be finished in 2029.

Pioneer Group got planning permission to redevelop The Grafton Centre, in Cambridge, in 2024. The first phase of the project was initially due to be finished in 2028.

Subjit Jassy, the group's development and asset management director, said half a million square feet (46,450 sq m) would be revamped.

"In this first phase we're delivering half of that... and of that about 38,000 to 40,000 square feet (3,530 to 3,716 sq m) will be an incubator for life science and tech start-ups in Cambridge," he added.

Head-and-shoulders photo of Subjit Jassy wearing a blue and white shirt and glasses, in the background are Grafton Centre shops.
Subjit Jassy from Pioneer Group said the eastern part of the shopping centre will be converted into science and innovation space

The Grafton originally opened in 1984, with Queen Elizabeth II cutting the ribbon.

A redevelopment of the complex will also include a new Premier Inn hotel on East Road.

A life sciences building is also set to replace Abbeygate House on East Road, which Jassy confirmed had started to be demolished.

He added: "The area that we're redeveloping is really the eastern part of the shopping centre and all of that will be converted into science and innovation space."

Pioneer Group said the redevelopment was expected to create up to 2,000 jobs from PhD to entry level within the planned new science centre.

They have also projected the changes will deliver an extra £111m into the city economy.

On the last phase of the project, Jassy said: "We are going to have to revisit the last phase to see what we're going to do."

He said that could result in the delivery of it being pushed to 2030.

John O'Shea has short grey hair and a beard. He is wearing a blue and white chequered T-shirt and is standing in a shopping centre in front of Boots and H&M Home.
Centre manager John O'Shea said he was "very excited" about the development

Manager of the Grafton Centre John O'Shea said he was "very excited about the development".

"I think the most important thing to realise is that for us to create this life science innovation hub development, we've had to create an empty space so that we can reconstruct the space," he added.

The site was once home to Mothercare, Debenhams and a cinema, all of which have closed down.

O'Shea said the site "needed to be repurposed" for a number of reasons, including the rise in online shopping and the aftereffects of the pandemic.

Pioneer Group An artist impression of a large development which includes several buildings, some of which have grass and solar panels on the top. There are trees and green spaces in front of the buildings.Pioneer Group
There are plans for a new life sciences building and hotel on East Road

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