The Crown Estate joins our 'Science Cities' event in Cambridge

Above: Matthew Sampson, Regeneration Director, The Crown Estate (courtesy The Crown Estate)

Future Cities Forum is delighted that Matthew Sampson, Regeneration Director at the Crown Estate, will be joining our 'Science Cities' event in Cambridge this month.

Matthew is working on regeneration projects specialising in Innovation and Energy Clusters with a current focus on stewardship, placemaking and purpose-led development and innovation districts.

Matthew will be speaking about the development of Cambridge Business Park, comprising 12 modern office/technology buildings, amounting to 325,000 square feet. The park has unrestricted business use.

Home to over 17 tenants including Redgate, Price Bailey, 1Spatial, the BBC and Qualcomm amongst others, the Park is located in the popular Northern Cambridge Cluster, adjacent to the A14.

The Crown Estate describes its vision:

'We're driven by our clear purpose of creating lasting and shared prosperity for the nation. By drawing on our values, we aim to address the nation’s needs where our unique combination of strengths mean we are best placed to make a difference. Our focus is on long-term, structural challenges facing the country today:

• Being a leader in supporting the UK towards a net zero carbon and energy-secure future

• Creating inclusive communities and through our activities supporting economic growth and productivity

• Taking a leading role in stewarding the UK’s natural environment and biodiversity

• 'Our unique set up, established through an Act of Parliament to operate independently and commercially, means that there is nothing else quite like us. We have a unique combination of strengths that means we can bring people together to make a difference.

• Our broad ownership. We have a diverse footprint across the country.

• Trusted brand and reputation. We are known for our quality, longevity and integrity.

• Independence and simplicity of role. We have developed a clear strategy and set of targets to deliver our statutory mandate.

• Power to convene and catalyse. We bring together public and private partners, stakeholders and customers to tackle challenges.

• Long-term view. We act in the public interest and invest for the long term.

'Our strategy will help deliver ambitious long-term national outcomes, creating financial, environmental and social value for the nation for now and for future generations.'

The Crown Estate is owned by the Monarch “in right of the Crown”. This means that while the King owns the estate during his reign, it is not his private property and he does not manage or make decisions about its assets.

This dates back to 1760 when George III surrendered the management of Crown Lands to Parliament for a fixed annual payment.

Later in the Crown Estate Act 1961 the modern-day independent and commercial organisation was created. Its' profit is delivered to the Treasury, who then decide the annual payment to the King (the Sovereign Grant).