Business Park boasts full roster following largest Cambridge office letting in a decade

A deal announced today between The Crown Estate and CSR plc will see the FTSE 250 technology developer establish an expanded, 100,000 sq. ft. global HQ at Cambridge Business Park in the largest office letting in Cambridge in over a decade.

Further lettings of a combined 11,000 sq. ft., to the multi-national computer technology company, Oracle, and to JDR Cable Systems, a leading provider of high-tech cabling for the offshore energy industry, means that the 320,000 sq. ft. Business Park is now fully let, with over 2,000 people set to be working on site once these tenants move in.   

The deal with CSR plc., which is already a tenant at the Park, will see the business expand its existing holdings, facilitating the consolidation of its operations in Cambridge into a single bespoke campus created by The Crown Estate specifically to meet CSR’s requirements.  

The letting places further emphasis on Cambridge’s position as a centre of technology excellence as companies are increasingly drawn to Cambridge for its long history of innovation, as well as for the excellent quality of living the city provides for employees. The success of Cambridge in the technology sector has led to it being referred to as the “Silicon Fen”, the UK’s equivalent of California’s Silicon Valley.

James Cooksey, Head of The Crown Estate’s Regional Portfolio said: “There is a strong office market in Cambridge, driven by the City’s position as one of the leading destinations in the UK for the global technology sector. By working closely with occupiers, and being innovative about how we manage the space on site, we have had great success in capitalising on this demand, providing the kind of high quality space, in an attractive business park setting, that modern businesses are looking for.”    

Cambridge Silicon Radio (CSR) was founded in 1999 in Cambridge and has quickly become one of the UK’s most successful technology developers, providing silicon chips, software and services to the global consumer electronics industry. The business now employs around 2,000 staff worldwide, with over 600 based in Cambridge. CSR currently has a number of offices and advanced research facilities around the City, including at St John’s Innovation Park and Cambridge Science Park.

Will Gardiner, CFO at CSR added, “To accommodate our growing business and bring our Cambridge employees together on one campus, we decided to consolidate our corporate headquarters in Cambridge, which sits at the centre of the UK’s innovative technology industry.  The Crown Estate has worked closely with us to create the ideal solution, which allows us to stay in the Business Park and take advantage of their flexible and modern office and laboratory space.”

Both Oracle and JDR Cable Systems represent new additions to the Park’s line-up of leading business. Cambridge Business Park will be JDR’s fourth UK office, with the business already working out of offices in Hartlepool, Littleport and Aberdeen as well as in locations across the world like Hamburg, Houston, Rio de Janiero, Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur. Oracle, headquartered in California, is one of the world’s leading hardware and software manufacturers and already operates out of offices across the world.   

Cambridge Business Park already provides high quality, modern office accommodation to range of technology companies, including Hewlett Packard and Red Gate Software, as well as the regional offices of other leading UK businesses like the BBC and Ernst & Young.

 
*******

 

For further information please contact:

Sean Farrance-White, Quatro PR, [email protected]
020 7566 7972

The Crown Estate press office, [email protected],    
020 7851 5242                                                                                                    

                                                                     
The Crown Estate

·         The Crown Estate is an independent commercial business, established by Act of Parliament.

·         100% of its annual profits are returned to the Treasury for the benefit of the public finances.

·         Over the last 10 years The Crown Estate has returned over £2.2bn to the Treasury. In the last financial year the value of the business rose to almost £10bn and its returns were £267m.  

·         Across its diverse portfolio, The Crown Estate’s approach remains consistent; driving sustainable returns and growth through an active approach to asset management and long term investment in four key sectors; Central London’s West End, prime regional retail, rural land and offshore wind.

·         The Crown Estate’s portfolio is one of the most diverse anywhere in the world, including some of the UK’s most iconic assets:

·         All of Regent Street and much of St James’s in central London;

·         A UK top five portfolio of prime regional retail and leisure assets;

·         One of the nation’s largest rural land portfolios;

·         The entire UK seabed and around 50% of the foreshore.

·         The Crown Estate’s history can be traced back to 1066. In the 21st century it is a successful, commercial enterprise, established as a market leader in its key sectors and known for a progressive, sustainable approach that creates long term value, beyond its financial return.

 



Looking for something specific?