CBRE opens new state-of-the-art Oxfordshire office

Global real estate advisor CBRE has launched a new office in Oxfordshire tipped as its strategic new foothold from which to expand operations across the region.

The newly completed two-storey eco-office, known as The Dutch Barn, is located on a small business park in Botley, and had eight specialist CBRE property teams who worked together on the design and rebuild.

There is space for up to 48 personnel, with break-out zones for collaboration, meeting and presentation areas as well as an outdoor terrace.

Ross Howard, Managing Director of CaMKOx (Oxfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Milton Keynes) at CBRE, said: “This is a fantastic new facility which will be the headquarters of all our activity across the Oxfordshire and wider region.

“It is an ideal base from which to build our presence in the region – a highly-significant market, with significant opportunities for growth, despite the wider economic downturn. This market is seeing increased demand from tech and life sciences occupiers as well as significant real estate development prospects.”

This is the latest in CBRE’s expansion in the region after its acquisition of market-leading commercial property consultancy VSL and Partners Ltd in March this year and integrating it into the UK advisory business.

Richard Venables, Head of Oxford, added: “Since the acquisition, the Oxford-based team has more than doubled in size with a range of key hires and now covers Agency, Investment, Lease Consultancy, Valuation, Rating, Development and Building Consultancy (including office, industrial and life sciences).

“The Life Sciences team recently advised leading gene and cell therapy group Oxford Biomedica in a landmark £60m sale-and-lease-back transaction of its 75,000 sq ft state-of-the-art Windrush Court laboratory facility in Oxford to Kadans Science Partner.”