- Home
- News
-
Planning permission sought for Plot 16 as TOSP continues ambitious expansion plans
Planning permission sought for Plot 16 as TOSP continues ambitious expansion plans
24 July 2019
Planning permission sought for Plot 16 as The Oxford Science Park continues ambitious expansion plans
15,300 sq m of office and lab space to complement the new Bellhouse Building
Oxford, UK, July 24 2019 – Following an architectural competition for a compelling contemporary design in 2018, involving four first-class international practices, and after open consultation with the local community, The Oxford Science Park has filed for detailed planning permission for a major new phase of development on its Plot 16. Comprising 165,000 sq ft of workspace for offices and labs across two buildings, it will also feature a central raised plaza and wider landscaping and accessibility enhancements.
Construction is planned to commence in Q2 2020 and will represent the largest speculative commercial workspace commitment Oxford has seen in a generation. The buildings should reach practical completion by Q4 2021.
The central raised plaza, and the Plot’s eastern plaza at street level, have been designed to facilitate access to the planned Railway Station that will come with the re-opening of the Cowley Branch line (in 2022 it is hoped). Both Network Rail and Chiltern Railways, amongst others, have been consulted on the plans.
Plot 16 is part of The Oxford Science Park’s ambitious plans for further expansion, attracting additional exciting science & technology occupiers to the Park while providing grow-on space for those already on site. This is in addition to the new SME space, The Bellhouse Building, under construction now for occupation in mid 2020.
Perkins & Will is the architect for Plot 16, which will be built in an exemplary and highly sustainable manner. Other professional design team members include: Hoare Lea, Campbell Reith, Core5 and 3PM.
Piers Scrimshaw-Wright, CEO of The Oxford Science Park, said, ‘As the UK’s science & technology sectors continue to thrive – as they certainly are in Oxford – it is essential that we create significant capacity for growing businesses on the Park and cater for new entrants, including potential inward investment. By applying for planning permission, we are putting in place a major step in the evolution of the Park. Our plans are a catalyst for the re-opening of the Cowley Branch line, which is an important infrastructure initiative that key Oxford City stakeholders will want to see delivered.’
–ENDS—
For more information, please contact:
The Oxford Science Park
Emma Palmer Foster, Strategic Communications Consultant
T: +44 (0)7880 787185
emmapf@oxfordsp.com
Notes to editors
About The Oxford Science Park
The Oxford Science Park is owned and managed by Magdalen College, Oxford. Created in 1991, the Park upholds the College’s heritage and provides one of the most influential Science & Technology environments in the UK. There is approaching 750,000 square feet of workspace accommodation across the Park, which is now home to more than 2,700 people and more than 130 businesses. These range from start-ups based in the Magdalen Centre innovation hub to major international companies and include: Blue Earth Diagnostics, Circassia, OrganOx, OxSonics, Oxford Nanopore Technologies, Sharp Life Science, Oxford Genetics, ProImmune, Oxford Sciences Innovation, Evox Therapeutics, Vaccitech, Exscientia and Sensyne Health.
In addition to being a key property investment, the Park is at the heart of Magdalen College’s strategy to support discovery, innovation and entrepreneurship. It will continue to develop The Oxford Science Park as a long-term strategic asset, with ambitious plans to create an additional 300,000+ sq ft of office and laboratory space on the remaining 10+ acres of land over the next 3-5 years. This additional capacity will support the growth of businesses already based on the Park, providing flexible workspace accommodation, and enabling new companies to enjoy the Park’s exceptional environment and collegiate and collaborative ethos. The Oxford Science Park is located approximately four miles south-east of Oxford city centre, just off the City’s southern ring road. It has easy access to the M40 and A34, as well as to Heathrow Airport and mainline train services. For further information, please visit: www.oxfordsp.com or follow us on twitter @OxfordSciencePK
Read other news articles