The Trinity College-owned Cambridge Science Park has applied for planning permission for its 30-year “master plan,” which it says will triple office space and create 20,000 jobs.

Already the largest science park in the UK, around 170 companies are based at its site in North Cambridge. Trinity plans to increase office area from 2.8 million to approximately 8 million square feet, and build a new public park for the use of Cambridge residents, as part of the £3 billion investment made jointly by Trinity and private partners.

Initial plans were announced in September, with residents and students invited to give feedback. According to The Financial Times, Trinity submitted an “outline planning application” for the park on Friday (15/05), with the proposals requiring approval by both Cambridge City Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council.

£1 billion will be spent in the “first phase” of the plan. Improvements to green space are expected to be the first works carried out.

Since its establishment in 1970, Cambridge Science Park has contributed to the development of Bluetooth, cancer treatment, and biodegradable packaging. It claims to contribute £1 billion to the UK economy each year.

Current occupants include Microsoft, Huawei, and semiconductor company AMD.

As well as expanding office space, the plans include the expansion of “ancillary services,” such as retail space, hotel facilities, and sport and fitness facilities.

Despite the creation of new jobs, additional car parking is not included in the proposals. Cambridge Science Park says it will encourage the use of trains and the nearby busway for access.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves praised the plans as part of a wider investment in the area, describing them as “exactly the kind of long-term, high-value investment the Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor was made for”.

Cambridge MP Daniel Zeichner said of the proposal: “The benefits of this investment will be widely felt – children will have direct access to some of the world’s most fascinating areas of research, while researchers and technicians will be able to develop their skills in a vibrant, leading community.”

Roland Sinker, head of innovation and growth at the University of Cambridge, said: “Cambridge Science Park has been critical in transforming our city from a historic place of learning into a global centre of scientific and technological innovation.

“The park’s expansion will contribute billions to the national economy and help ensure that the breakthroughs of the future are developed in the UK.”