10 April 2015, Cambridge Assessment, the University’s international exams group, has been given the go-ahead for what is set to be a landmark building for the city that will provide jobs for up to 3000 staff and include contemporary design features including a stunning 39.1m tower. Carter Jonas incorporating Januarys advised on the planning. Called The Triangle site, due to its three sided shape, the new building is situated on Shaftesbury Road in Cambridge and will bring together Cambridge Assessment’s Cambridge-based staff – currently based at 11 different sites - into one headquarters by 2018, when staff numbers will be about 2,300.  The building, designed by award-winning architects Eric Parry Associates, is both contemporary and in keeping with the neighbouring conservation area and surrounding buildings. It includes a courtyard entrance and extensive green and outdoor spaces as well as a 39.1 m tower that will be a landmark when approaching Cambridge from the south of the city.

Approval from the City Council follows a period of public consultation at which members of the public were given the opportunity to comment via a drop in surgery, the Triangle website and the City Council’s planning department website.

Cambridge Assessment Group Property Director Andrew Spendlove said: “We are delighted that we are now able to proceed with our plans to create a building that is sensitive to its surroundings as well as creating a fantastic place for our staff to work that offers additional high quality employment opportunities as we move towards full capacity around 2025. We are pleased to engage with the local resident groups about our plans and gauge their views and we will continue this as the work progresses.”

Colin Brown, partner and head of planning & development in Carter Jonas, Cambridge said: “This is a milestone moment for Cambridge Assessment, as the process of locating a new site for their occupation has been an arduous one. The planning process has also been time-consuming and complex, but that is inevitably the case for such a significant and prestigious new building. We are thrilled to have played our part in its delivery.”

Outline planning permission was granted last September and Reserved Matters approval has now been granted by Cambridge City Council covering layout, scale, appearance, access and landscaping.   The decision takes the project to approved full planning permission status, although there will need to be further applications at various stages of the development to address a number of the conditions that have been applied.

Cambridge Assessment recently appointed John F Hunt, one of the UK’s leading demolition companies, to clear the site (previously home to Cambridge University Press’s Edinburgh Building) , with demolition set to begin in April. They have already met with the local community groups and are committed to on-going public engagement via newsletters etc. The main contractors will then take over the site to begin construction in late summer this year.

Cambridge Assessment is working towards occupation of The Triangle in 2018, reaching full capacity of 3000 staff by 2025.