Aviva Capital Partners and developer Socius have submitted plans for a £1bn cancer research and treatment centre in Sutton, London.

A planning application has been submitted to the London Borough of Sutton for the development which will be delivered on a 12-acre site at the London Cancer Hub, adjacent to The Institute of Cancer Research, London - one of the world’s leading cancer research organisations - and The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust’s Sutton site, Europe’s leading centre for cancer treatment.

Working with London Borough of Sutton as the landowner, ACP and Socius plan to deliver around 1m sq ft of state-of-the-art research and laboratory space to bring leading life sciences companies together with academic researchers and clinicians to drive innovation in cancer research.

The development will support 3,000 new jobs, the majority of which will be in high-skilled research and development and small-scale manufacturing related to life sciences.

ACP and Socius have assembled team to deliver the development including Gensler (architects), Arup (structural engineers) and Savills (planning consultancy).  

According to an analysis by London Borough of Sutton, by the time the development is complete the London Cancer Hub will support 13,000 jobs in total and contribute an estimated £1.2bn per year GVA to the UK economy.

The new buildings will range from large-scale facilities for global pharmaceutical and life sciences companies through to smaller, flexible lab and incubator spaces for start-ups.

The buildings will exceed mandatory sustainability and energy efficiency standards with the aim to achieve net-zero carbon in operation.

The development will also deliver vital new amenities to support workers and help attract talent to the London Cancer Hub including restaurants and cafes, a creche and affordable homes for approximately 220 key workers.

It will also include a ‘Learning Lab’, comprising classroom and educational spaces to inspire the next generation to pursue a career in science and technology.

A planning decision for the project is expected this year.

David Epstein, managing director of Aviva Capital Partners, said: “We invest to grow the economy, drive regeneration and create jobs and homes across the UK. We’re delighted to be investing in world-class cancer research in Sutton.

“As well as helping the UK to grow and get ready for the future, this investment will be a boost for the local area, with thousands of new jobs created.”

Barry Jessup, managing director of Socius, added: “There is a unique opportunity at the London Cancer Hub to deliver state-of-the-art lab and research facilities alongside two world-renowned institutions, The Institute of Cancer Research and The Royal Marsden, to supercharge investment into cancer research.

“Our plans are not just about delivering new facilities to attract cutting-edge businesses, it is about reorienting the district so there is better connectivity between the buildings, more natural ‘collision points’ and places to meet to drive collaboration and innovation.”