“Now the work really starts!”
A major new chapter for Cirencester is on the horizon after Cotswold District Council granted outline planning permission for the Royal Agricultural University’s pioneering Innovation Village earlier this year.
The 24,000 sqm development will be the UK's first Innovation Village dedicated to the land-based sector, bringing together education, research and industry to accelerate agri-tech innovation, sustainability and green economic growth.
We caught up with Graham Pollard, Chief Operating Officer at the Royal Agricultural University to find out more about what this milestone means for the University, the local economy, and the wider community
Now you have planning permission, what are the next steps? What does the next 12 – 24 months look like?
“We were delighted to finally get outline planning for our Innovation Village project back in May when councillors voted unanimously in favour of our proposal.
“Now the work really starts! We are producing a technical summary of the development to aid the detailed plans required for the different phases of construction.
“We are also now able to re-engage with our investor prospects, from both the UK and overseas, from our initial pre-planning discussions. And we plan to have an event that will showcase our plan for the Innovation Village, as a major piece of national research infrastructure, to Government and other high-profile stakeholders.”
What benefits or opportunities will this project bring to the local area, and local residents?
“While the influence of this development will be national and international, the Innovation Village will provide a physical home for multiple agencies from different sectors to work together in ways that can help find solutions to sustainable land use, food production, climate change and the biodiversity crisis. Naturally this will, in turn, attract business to the district bringing growth and employment opportunities.
“It will encourage 16-to-24-year-olds to stay within Gloucestershire by providing skills training and employment opportunities, and will be a beacon for UK and international businesses and our university partners.
“We have also followed a landscape led approach for the design of the Innovation Village which means there will be new pedestrian routes and cycle routes through the landscaped parkland that will form the centre of the village, all of which will be open to the public.”
What is the long-term vision for the innovation village – how could it help shape the future of the area?
“From our founding in 1845 as the first agricultural college in the English-speaking world to our current global collaborations, the RAU is already responding to modern challenges in land use, climate change, and skills development.
“The Innovation Village will act as a hub for research, collaboration, and practical solutions, combining the RAU’s specialist expertise with international partnerships to drive economic growth, sustainability, and educational excellence.
“The RAU currently contributes more than £50m a year to the local economy in Gloucestershire and, when fully-fledged, it is estimated that the Innovation Village will generate an additional £50m GVA (Gross Value Added) a year.”
Click here to find out more about the RAU's Innovation Village.