September 12, 2025
Gillingham Bell has been brought in to advise on the master planning and leasing of the retail, dining and leisure opportunities at the world renowned Wellcome Genome Campus near Cambridge.
Exciting development plans are in place to further grow the Campus into a truly global destination for innovative companies, research organisations and scientific talent – driving cutting-edge science into advances in health and tackling some of humanity’s greatest challenges. Over the next few years, it will grow from 125 acres to 440 acres, with the number of people working on it expected to increase from around 3,000 to between 7,000 and 9,000.
The expansion of the Campus will build on the site’s existing international standing from occupiers including Wellcome Sanger and EMBL-EBI. Backed by the Wellcome Trust, the first phase alone is one of the largest contemporary investments in the UK’s life sciences infrastructure.
The retail, leisure and dining facilities will include a new gym and health centre with pool, a hotel with conference facilities and a wide range of locations across the estate.
Commenting on the appointment – Colette O’Shea, Chief Operating Officer, Wellcome Genome Campus Ltd, said:
“I worked with Nigel Gillingham and his team previously and wanted an adviser with experience of not just mixed-use sites in the UK but also with knowledge and involvement of other projects in Europe and the US.
“Gillingham Bell brings a unique level of expertise and will work with us in putting together a master plan and then implementing this as part of the leasing strategy.”
Joint Owner at Gillingham Bell, Nigel Gillingham, commented, “We are obviously delighted to be working with Colette again and to be part of the wider team in devising and implementing a retail and leisure tenant mix strategy across this incredible estate.”
