The completion of the Broers Building on the West Cambridge site earlier this month has marked the latest stage in the expansion of the University’s science and technology campus.

Named in honour of the former Vice-Chancellor of the University, the Broers Building hopes to provide a leading centre for research collaboration between the University and local and international businesses.

Although plans for the 163-acre expansion West site were drawn up in 1999, the site is only 25 per cent complete. A significant number of renowned research facilities have already been located there, including the University’s Cavendish Laboratory, Department of Veterinary Medicine, and the Whittle Laboratory.

In addition to academic buildings, a growing number of commercial organisations such as Microsoft, Hitachi and Nokia, have also taken space in the site.

Despite expectations that the West site would provide a successful forum for business and academia to mingle, it has recently been the subject of much criticism.

There has been condemnation of plans which place some of the University’s most important research and education facilities on the outskirts of the city.

Speaking to Varsity, Peter Carolin, Chairman of Cambridge Futures, acknowledged that the site is "like a business park; the buildings are very spaced out and roads dominate the site. It relates in no way to the surrounding residential areas – it is an isolated enclave."

He goes on to lament the fact that, planned differently, the site could have been integrated into the city, to the immense benefit of employees and residents

However, Carolin went on to praise the Broers Building, explaining that its completion has elicited excitement for the future of the site. The construction of the building, adjacent to a central café and an Entrepreneurship Centre, will hopefully create more opportunities for researchers and academics to meet and foster ideas.

Liz Pride, Director of MJP architects, Master Planners of the site, defended their plans for the site, saying that although recent press reports criticise the location as lacking in liveliness, this is a "25-year development project" and "the next stage, which is soon to be lodged for Planning Approval, provides the site’s main public squares, forming a social focus for the nascent science community."

Mr Carolin wants all sections of the city to meet for a research project to sort out the future of Cambridge.