Brookfield launches ARC Oxford science and tech park

Published by

Sam Pither

International investment management firm Brookfield has today launched ARC Oxford (previously Oxford Business Park).

With demand for lab space in Oxfordshire reaching almost 860,000 square feet, ARC Oxford brings new science-ready space to meet this demand.

Brookfield, which also manages Harwell Campus, is set to invest more than £1 billion into Oxfordshire by latter years of the decade. Plans being considered could see the current 514,000 square feet Oxford City space double in size as it brings new laboratories, cleanrooms, offices and R&D facilities to the campus.

Dan Williams, Director of Asset Management at ARC Oxford, said: “Oxford has a thriving innovation ecosystem, however science-ready space is in short supply across the City.

“We’ve been working in partnership with our members to understand their needs, so that we can invest and build state-of-the-art, flexible research and development space on a speculative or pre-committed basis.

“This will allow our members to scale at pace, focusing on the scientific discoveries that will help solve some of the greatest challenges that we face.”

Since Brookfield acquired Oxford Business Park in 2021, ARC has already speculatively redeveloped, refurbished and let around 60,000 square feet of space geared towards life sciences lab space. This has allowed the campus to welcome three new science organisations along with creating space for existing members to grow into.

Cultivated meat pioneer Ivy Farm Technologies and OMass Therapeutics, a firm discovering new drugs to treat orphan or immunological disease, have both partnered with ARC to deliver bespoke full-building refurbishments. ARC has installed CL2 wet labs and office space for these customers, totalling 18,000 square feet and 16,000 square feett respectively.

Exact Sciences, a company focused on developing cancer detection technology, has taken over 17,000 square feet of lab enabled space while current member Accession Therapeutics, which is developing novel immuno-oncology therapeutics to treat the most intractable and widespread forms of cancer, has increased its existing space by 30 per cent.

Sarah Haywood, Managing Director for Advanced Oxford, added: “Advanced Oxford recognises that building the right kind of start-up and scale-up space is crucial for the success of Oxfordshire’s incredible science and technology companies. We welcome the investment ARC Oxford is making in their campus and see it as an important vote of confidence from a leading international investor.”

ARC Oxford is part of ARC’s science and tech network of clusters, joining Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, ARC West London and ARC Uxbridge.

The company has five million square feet of development potential planned across the UK’s Golden Triangle, with three million square feet planned at the 700-acre Harwell site.

Sam Pither

Sam is the Regional Editor of Biz News, responsible for both Hampshire and Dorset. A new recruit to journalism, Sam started writing for the Business Magazine as a freelancer in May of 2022 after completing his degree in English at University College London. His passion for local businesses and ability to tell a story soon caught the attention of the publication’s management team and have led to his meteoric rise. Sam, who lives in central Reading, takes a particular interest in technology, gaming and food and drink, having been a chef before starting his degree.