Flexible buildings reshape Cambridge property market
Building owners are increasingly adapting commercial space to meet changing occupier requirements, reshaping Cambridge’s property market as businesses seek flexibility, location and functionality. Office take-up reached 263,000 sq ft in the first half of 2026, 16 per cent up on a year ago and well above the five-year average for the period, according to Savills. Tech and pharma companies accounted for almost all of activity. However, recent deals suggest occupiers are becoming less concerned on what a building was designed for and more whether it can be adapted to their needs. Cellular Origins has acquired 41,000 sq ft at Melbourn Science Park, with about a third of the secondary office space being converted to lab and production use. 4BaseBio has taken around 36,500 sq ft at Bar Hill for laboratory conversion, while 42T has acquired 17,000 sq ft at Cambourne Park (photo) with around half being converted to laboratory space. By contrast, Gilead has leased 27,488 sq ft of purpose-built laboratory space at Granta Park but plans to use it mainly as offices. Phillip Ridoutt, director at Savills, said the transactions showed that occupiers were increasingly selecting buildings according to their ability to support changing business requirements rather than their original specification. Rents are increasingly linked to building quality and specification rather than use-class alone. Prime fitted laboratory rents have reached £67.50 per sq ft, compared with around £55 for office fit-outs in similar buildings. The agent sees adaptability remaining key to long-term value as demand evolves, particularly with a growing need from the artificial intelligence sector.
Essex-based natural roof tile producer acquires Cambs-based group
Lifestiles, a handmade natural roof tile producer based in Halstead, Essex has acquired Primera Slate, based in Huntingdon in Cambs. Forward Corporate Finance acted as lead advisor to Lifestiles, assisting with deal negotiations, fundraising from Lloyds Bank for the deal, restructuring to form a group and managing the process to completion. Founded in 2004 by Dave Osborn and Mike Chillery, Lifestiles specialises in high quality, tiles produced using craftsmanship associated with traditional architecture in older cities, towns and villages. A sister company founded in 2021, Classic Brick, is a handmade brick import and wholesale business. Primera brings specialist high-quality slate roofing products to the group, which is complementary to the roof tile and brick divisions. Set up in 2014 by Steve and Karen Harding, Primera works alongside Spanish quarries to source and deliver Spanish slate for all levels of property development. Dave Osborn, CEO at Lifestiles, said: “Forward have been beside us all the way through this transaction, explaining how it works, raising the funding for us and managing the deal from start to finish.”
Rob Dukelow-Smith, Forward Corporate Finance director said: “This is an exciting development for Lifestiles and will provide many opportunities for them, and their staff, which is great for the region.”
Separately, Forward Corporate Finance has advised Bishop’s Stortford-based AIM-listed, FIH group plc on the sale of Momart International and its subsidiaries to Compagnie Générale du Roumois, a subsidiary of Horus Finance, an art logistics and storage company. Sarah Moores, director Forward Corporate Finance, said: “Despite Momart being a specialist business we had good interest from a number of buyers, both UK and overseas, before eventually selecting Horus.
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Farmland values hold firm despite tougher times
England’s farmland market has stayed resilient in 2026, with average prices holding firm despite tougher times in the sector. Strutt & Parker’s farmland database shows average prices achieved during the first nine months were £10,600 an acre for arable land and £8,700 for pasture. Both figures are slightly up on those reported in the summer although a trend towards fewer sales at the highest price levels has continued. Supply remains constrained, with just 22,800 acres publicly marketed in the third quarter, 16 per cent below the five-year average and down from 33,800 acres in the period last year. Sam Holt, head of estates and farm agency at Strutt & Parker, said: “England’s farmland market continues to demonstrate resilience, with average values holding firm despite the challenging conditions currently impacting the agricultural sector.” Farmers accounted for 62 pc of purchases during the first nine months, the highest proportion for more than a decade. The Autumn Budget and possible tax changes will be watched closely by buyers and sellers.
Delegates flock to Suffolk building event
More than 250 delegates attended the inaugural BUILD Suffolk event, which brought together businesses and organisations from across the construction, infrastructure, energy and development sectors. The sold-out event at Wherstead Park near Ipswich earlier this month featured 32 speakers and 15 exhibitors, to hear opportunities from major investment programmes across Suffolk and the wider region. Staff from Sizewell C, National Grid, EastWind and the New Hospital Programme took part in talks on skills, sustainability, social value, supply chains and the local legacy of major projects. The event was organised by Suffolk Chamber of Commerce through its Suffolk supply chain programme. John Dugmore, chief executive of the chamber, said: “This event really demonstrated both the scale of opportunity available and the strength of Suffolk’s construction, infrastructure and energy sectors.”
University spin-out takes extra space in Cambridge
Reclinker, a Cambridge University spin-out that has pioneered a propriety process for turning waste concrete into reusable cement, has taken on extra operating space at one of the city’s few central industrial sites. It has let just over 2,400 sq ft of space at Unit 3 at Coldham’s Road Industrial Estate, close to Unit 5 which was its location in 2024 when the firm received initial venture capital investment. The expansion comes as the company has secured £10 million of new investment through its latest funding round. BTG Eddisons acted as joint agents with Bidwells for the landlord.
Innovation centre clients win accolades at West Suffolk business awards
Client companies of The EpiCentre innovation centre in Haverhill won three accolades at the Bury Free Press West Suffolk Business Awards 2026 last week. EDR Technology won the investing in West Suffolk award in a competitive category sponsored by West Suffolk Council and a highly commended recognition in the green/environment category, sponsored by the ARC Shopping Centre in Bury. Meanwhile, KluraLabs won the manufacturing & innovation award, sponsored by NFU Mutual Bury St Edmunds. Helen Earl, centre manager at The EpiCentre, said: “We have an exciting roster of businesses at The EpiCentre, each bringing fresh ideas, expertise and ambition to their respective fields. This is exactly what an innovation centre should be about: supporting young, growing companies in both laboratory and office spaces, giving them the environment, facilities and support they need to realise their potential and make a real impact.” Meanwhile, The EpiCentre has launched a referral scheme offering a £500 reward to individuals and organisations that introduce a business which takes laboratory space at the facility.
Photo (l-r): Reza Saberi Moghaddam, Matin Mohseni, Fearne Andrews, Sian Howell, Amanda Ord, (all KluraLabs) Ed Aspeling (EDR)
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