GSK will spend £400million over the next three years on the development of a 300,000 sq ft site on Cambridge Biomedical Campus.
The move involves closing its main research and development hub in Stevenage, Hertfordshire.
GSK will open a major site at Cambridge Biomedical Campus
Around 1,800 staff currently work at the Stevenage R&D facility. GSK has said the new centre, in the heart of the UK’s premier life sciences city, will house more than 1,000 scientists, with a phased move for staff due for completion by 2029.
It is being developed by Prologis UK and will be located across three interconnected buildings – 2,000, 3,000 and 4,000 Discovery Drive. Construction of 2,000 Discovery Drive is already under way.
GSK invests more than £6bn in R&D every year of which more than £1.5bn is in the UK. The company says it is hoping all Stevenage workers will relocate to either Cambridge or to nearby Ware, where an existing site is being upgraded. It is understood there will be some roles affected, such as in support services, but GSK did not confirm numbers.
The news emerged following the announcement of the biopharma giant’s half-year results, which revealed that annual costs are set to be cut by £1.9bn over the next three years to fund the investment, ramp up R&D and help offset the hit when one of its key HIV treatments – dolutegravir – comes off its patent.
The FTSE 100 firm’s interim figures showed first half underlying core operating profit rose 8 per cent on a constant currency basis to £5.45bn, with turnover up 5 per cent to £16.04bn. On a statutory basis, half-year total earnings fell 31 per cent to £2.77bn.
The plan means GSK will have a far more significant presence in Cambridge than had hitherto been the case. Until now the pharma company, which employs 66,000 people globally and operates in 70 countries with 33 manufacturing sites, had only a clinical unit housed at Addenbrooke’s Hospital as a foothold in one of Europe’s key life sciences hubs.
GSK had already been cutting jobs at its Stevenage site as part of its ongoing overhaul of the global R&D division. In February, it confirmed around 350 R&D jobs were going across the US and UK.
Luke Miels, chief executive at GSK, said: “To fund investment in the late-stage portfolio and R&D, we are starting a three-year cost savings programme to simplify the organisation and to reallocate capital and resources.
“Savings will primarily be reinvested, with some used to improve margins and profitability in the dolutegravir patent expiry period.”
The campus site will be part of GSK’s wider UK network of collaboration with leading academic institutions and pioneering scientific organisations, including the University of Oxford, King’s College London, Imperial College, the University of Manchester, Wellcome and the Crick Institute.
Mr Miels added: “This investment will accelerate our R&D and help us deliver new, competitive products.
“It integrates GSK further into one of the world’s leading centres of knowledge and demonstrates the attractiveness of the UK’s life sciences ecosystem.”
It was in February 2026 that specialist life sciences developer Prologis UK struck a deal with Cambridgeshire County Council to acquire 67 acres of land for the expansion of the Cambridge Biomedical Campus.
Tony Wood, chief scientific officer, GSK
The emerging vision includes an innovation hub with co-working laboratories, learning spaces, a skills and training centre, keyworker serviced apartments and offices for life science support companies. Proposals include investment in transport infrastructure, green spaces and a community fund.
New amenities under consideration include a café, community rooms, event spaces and educational facilities. Land may also be made available for two new hotels.
The GSK site will feature tech-enabled labs and infrastructure to support research in the company’s focus areas of oncology, respiratory, hepatology, vaccines and HIV.
Tony Wood, chief scientific officer at GSK, said: “Cambridge has built one of the world’s best life sciences ecosystems, with leading universities, hospitals and biotech companies. The campus provides exceptional opportunities for collaboration.”
Andrew Blevins, SVP, life sciences, Prologis, said: “GSK’s decision is a powerful endorsement of Cambridge Biomedical Campus and the unique ecosystem that has been created here. Prologis invested ahead of demand at Discovery Drive because we believed global life-sciences organisations would continue to choose Cambridge. Having the right specialist infrastructure available allows companies to establish world-class facilities more quickly and strengthens the UK’s ability to compete for internationally significant life-sciences investment.”
Jonathan Reynolds, Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, said: “The UK is a genuine world leader in the life sciences, an industry providing life-saving new treatments to patients, while creating and supporting jobs in postcodes across the country.
“This announcement from GSK is yet another vote of confidence in the sector and demonstrates the success of the Government’s Industrial Strategy in unlocking vital private investment into the UK, one year on from the launch of the Life Sciences Sector Plan.
“This is great news for the sector and Prologis’ multi-billion pound future investment ambitions at Cambridge Biomedical Campus, demonstrating the success of the life sciences sector in the UK in attracting investment and supporting innovation which will drive discoveries that save and improve lives.”
Paul Bristow, mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, said: “Cambridge Biomedical Campus has become one of Europe’s leading centres for life sciences because it brings together pioneering research, outstanding healthcare and ambitious businesses in one place. GSK’s expanded presence is another vote of confidence in our region and demonstrates the continued appeal of Cambridgeshire as a place where global organisations choose to innovate and grow.”