Plans to flatten Cambridge’s Beehive Centre retail park and replace it with a major cluster of offices and laboratories have been signed off by Housing Secretary Steve Reed.

The Coldhams Lane site — home to 17 retail units including a large Asda — will now become a 1m sq ft life-sciences employment hub after ministers overruled Cambridge City Council’s original refusal.

The council rejected the plans in February, warning that “enormous” new blocks would overshadow neighbouring homes.

But a planning inspector found light loss would be within “acceptable” limits, with fresh conditions added to control daylight, sunlight and overshadowing.

The approved scheme is lower than earlier versions submitted by owner Railpen.

Existing Beehive Centre site

The redevelopment scheme is forecast to create nearly 6,500 jobs and pump £600m extra into the local economy compared with the ageing retail park. Railpen has also agreed contributions towards new bus services, leisure facilities and delivery of a new public green space, Hive Park.

Matthew Howard, head of property at Railpen, welcomed the ministerial approval: “We are committed to ensuring that our scheme makes a meaningful and lasting contribution to Cambridge’s economic and social progress.”