Hinxton Site

Comprises papers regarding the Hinxton site. The files concern the initial location search, the development of the Genome Campus and the 1997 planning application.

1992-1999

5 boxes

After John Sulston's proposal for a genome sequencing centre was approved, the Wellcome Trust considered several locations before deciding to lease a site at Hinxton, just south of Cambridge. Staff initially moved into the former Tube Investments building on site in early 1993 and the Sanger Centre was officially opened by Fred Sanger on 4 October 1993. In autumn 1993 Hinxton was successful in its bid to host the European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI), leading to the Wellcome Trust's decision to increase investment in Hinxton, purchase the site and develop it into a campus. Planning permission was granted in April 1994 and new buildings for the Sanger Centre were erected, along with buildings for the EMBL-EBI and the Medical Research Council's Human Genome Mapping Project Resource Centre. Staff moved into the new buildings during 1996 and the Wellcome Trust Genome Campus as it was named was officially opened on 8 October 1997 by the Princess Royal. The Wellcome Trust submitted a new planning permission application in 1997 to develop the site further to create a biotechnology hub, but permission was refused. In 2002 the Trust submitted plans for a smaller development, which were approved.