Prologis UK has appointed David Partridge, previously Chair of Related Argent, as Placemaking Advisor for its development on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus (CBC). The appointment demonstrates Prologis’s continued commitment to providing leadership in enhancing the campus, as the government announces a new Greater Cambridgeshire Development Corporation to unlock strategic sites and accelerate growth.
Prologis, a leading global property owner, developer and investor, has committed to a $4 billion (£3 million) 2.4m sq ft expansion of CBC through Phases 3 and 4, in partnership with Cambridgeshire County Council. The globally significant campus today contributes around £4.7 billion to the UK economy, and the ambition is to double its size, creating a further 20,000 jobs, while delivering further economic, social and infrastructure benefits for Cambridgeshire and the UK.
A highly respected authority in urban regeneration and placemaking, David Partridge, has worked in the UK real estate sector for his whole career. He joined Argent in 1990, was appointed Joint Chief Executive in 2006 and Managing Partner of the new Argent LLP in 2012. He became Senior Partner in 2019 and Chairman of Related Argent in 2021, before retiring in May 2025. Partridge is Chairman and Co-Founder of Senze Ltd and Chairman of the Governance Board of the UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard. He read architecture at the University of Cambridge and is a member of the Royal Institute of British Architects.
David Partridge, Placemaking Advisor for Cambridge Biomedical Campus, said: “Cambridge Biomedical Campus is critical to the UK economy and to advancements in global life sciences discovery and commercialisation. Development of such a valuable and valued asset requires careful placemaking consideration and stakeholder engagement to ensure it continues to attract world-leading organisations and talent. Prologis has a long-term focus on investing to create sustainable environments that support innovation, research and economic growth. I am honoured to be charged with leading on this critical placemaking work.”
Partridge will focus on the holistic shaping of the spaces and environment of the campus and integrating it into its local, regional and national context, as well as maximising the shared value for public and private sector organisations located at CBC, building on the site’s global reputation for world-class healthcare, research and scientific discovery. He will work with Jason Longhurst, who heads up sustainable investment and partnerships for Prologis, and alongside Andrew Blevins who is responsible for life sciences development.
Paul Weston, Regional Head of Prologis UK, said: “Cambridge Biomedical Campus is critical to the success of the UK’s growth agenda and our partnership with Cambridgeshire County Council reflects the government’s strategy of public-private partnerships that accelerate growth. The plan for growth at pace means that expert placemaking is more important than ever - to ensure we are taking a thoughtful, place-led approach to future growth, working with Cambridgeshire County Council and the Campus’ world-leading institutions.”
Michael Hudson, Executive Director of Resources and Finance at Cambridgeshire County Council, said: “We welcome David Partridge’s appointment and the focus it brings to strategic placemaking. As the campus expands, high-quality strong placemaking that is co-produced across stakeholders, including users and local communities, will be critical to ensuring this is not just a centre of global innovation, but a place which a large number of people can benefit from. We must deliver strong sustainable communities and improved connectivity, that ensures that the economic and social benefits are felt locally, as well as nationally and globally.”
