DPP were appointed by Cardiff University to progress the third phase of the Cardiff University Innovation Campus. This involved the development of two large buildings, public realm, and a new pedestrian/cycle bridge over the adjoining railway line. The buildings are intended to accommodate and encourage World-leading science, Increases in research capacity and capabilities through increased levels of research income and collaborative and interdisciplinary translational research.

In order to deliver the scale of development required to meet the user’s needs, the original masterplan and scale parameters set by the outline planning consent needed to be amended.  DPP supported the University and design team in securing this crucial amendment whilst working closely with three separate design teams led by Hawkins/Brown, BDP and HOK, to develop a planning strategy that enabled key funding timescales to be met. This strategy required the submission of three different planning applications to facilitate the ‘early release’ of one site. It also required a fresh planning application for the pedestrian/cycle bridge in order to address previous legal undertakings.

The funding requirements and programme meant that the determination period of the application was critical, but following close dialogue with the public, local councillors and stakeholders, DPP managed to secure all three consents under delegated powers.

DPP secured consent for the Translational Research Facility within 10 weeks of submission thereby meeting the key funding timescales, with the Innovation Central, Public Realm, and the new pedestrian bridge element all approved within the agreed wider programme.

Images: Hawkins/Brown, HoK and Brick Visuals