Retail and leisure team appointed at Cambridge mixed-use estate
Railpen and its development partner Socius have appointed Bidwells as the leasing agent for the ground floor amenity units within Mill Yard, a 180,000 sq ft mixed-use campus currently under construction in Cambridge.
Bidwells’ retail and leisure team, which itself is based in Cambridge, is to lead the leasing of over 5,500 sq ft of space, which includes a café, restaurant, and nursery located around a 1.5-acre park. Bidwells will look to bring in local independent operators aligned with the existing offer on Mill Road, a focal point for food and beverage in Cambridge.
The amenity units will join a combined café and events space on the ground floor of the offices, a gym and wellness space, an outdoor fitness area and running track, the central park and its events pavilion, and landscaped gardens.
Maria Averkina, asset and development manager at Railpen, said: “Mill Yard’s ground floor offer is vital in creating an engaging experience for workers, residents and neighbours to complement the exceptional office and residential space. We want to provide independent variety that reflects the character and appeal of Mill Road, a thriving collection of local bars, cafés, restaurants and shops known throughout the city. Bidwells’ retail and leisure team has the knowledge and the relationships to help achieve that ambition.”
James Lankfer, head of retail and leisure at Bidwells, added: “The ground floor units at Mill Yard are a rare opportunity for local operators to become part of a new commercial and residential community, in one of Cambridge’s most vibrant neighbourhoods. These spaces will make a vital contribution to the unique Mill Yard experience, and we are already receiving strong interest from several well-known and well-established independent businesses.”
Part of Railpen’s 1.9 m sq ft innovation cluster in the city, Mill Yard is the first of its developments under construction, with completion due in Q1 2027. Railpen’s innovation cluster also includes Botanic Place, its 325,000 sq ft global standard headquarters development that is due for completion in Q1 2028.