The Royal Agricultural University (RAU) has secured planning permission for its 'world-leading' Innovation Village, where it aims to bring together people from across the industry to 'shape the future' of sustainable agriculture and land use.
Cotswold District Council's planning committee voted unanimously this May 2026 to grant outline consent for mixed-use development at the university's Cirencester campus, comprising 24,012 sqm of floorspace for office, research and development, education, conferencing and cafe uses.
The RAU describes its Innovation Village project as a UK first, bringing together industry, food producers, farmers and landowners to create a global innovation park to 'spark entrepreneurial solutions for sustainable land use and a net zero future'.
Estimating it to cost 拢100 million, the university first revealed plans for the development back in 2023, promising to deliver a significant boost to Gloucestershire鈥檚 rural economy.
At the time, professor Peter McCaffery, RAU vice-chancellor, said: 鈥榃e anticipate we will increase the RAU鈥檚 current contribution of 拢52 million to the local and regional economy by half as much again over five years when the project is up and running.'
The village will act as a hub for research, collaboration and practical solutions in the land-based sector, combining the university鈥檚 specialist expertise with international partnerships to 'drive economic growth, sustainability, and educational excellence'.
Centred on agriculture, food and land management, it adds the village will develop new innovative practices that will restore biodiversity and increase agricultural productivity while maintaining land health and building resilience in rural communities.
It says the project will 'push the boundaries of sustainable design to ensure a development that is beautiful, carbon neutral, rich in nature, and inspires innovation through its environment', attracting forward-thinking partners and companies with state-of-the-art offices, workshops, and access to laboratory spaces, along with a net zero business park and 'high-quality' commercial facilities.
Outline consent also includes the conversion of the campus's existing Trent Lodge to cafe use, along with associated works including parking, access and highways.
It's estimated that the development will create over 125 jobs during the construction phases, and up to 1,230 full time jobs once complete.
Phase one of the development focuses on the village's research and development centre, which will serve as a central hub for businesses and policymakers.
Next steps for the project involve the creation and approval of more detailed plans, with Hereford-based architect Architype appointed to lead the design process.
