Oxford North tops out Red Hall and first lab buildings

Oxford North, a new innovation district opening next year, has topped out its first phase with the installation of the cantilever roof on Red Hall and steel frames on two new lab buildings.

Representing a £700 million investment, Oxford North is set to deliver one million sq ft of laboratories and workspaces for science and technology companies, 480 new homes, and amenities including a market square, hotel, nursery, cafe, bar and three public parks.

The first three buildings are due for completion in Q2 2025, alongside a two-acre central park and market square for pop-up markets, food vendors and a sports and cultural events programme.

The Red Hall, a landmark building, will provide offices at the heart of the new district as a new shared workspace for local occupiers.

Spanning five floors, the Red Hall’s ground floor will feature a cafe-bar, event, meeting and community space, co-working spaces and retail units.

The four upper floors will offer office space from 4,000 sq ft to accommodate a range of science and innovation startups and SMEs.

Meanwhile, the two laboratory buildings at 1 & 2 Fallaize Street are set to serve both SMEs and larger corporate occupiers.

Each building will total 58,700 sq ft over four floors and a mezzanine.

As a low-carbon district, the buildings will be all-electric and energy-efficient, powered by renewable sources and on-site photovoltaics, and will target BREEAM Excellent.

Oxford North Ventures is the joint venture company of Thomas White Oxford, the development company of St John’s College, Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan and Stanhope.

Since the project started, 1,067 construction jobs have been created – of which 25 per cent are locally based – and 22 new apprentices have been employed through the project’s three construction partners – Laing O’Rourke, Careys and The Hill Group.

David Camp, CEO of Stanhope, said: “Our topping out is a significant milestone for delivering Oxford’s new innovation district. Our thanks to the many people involved in reaching this moment.

“We’re building a new sustainable district for Oxford, purposefully designed to enable the next century of life-changing discoveries in science and technology.

“With major advances happening on our doorstep, we need spaces which enable such discovery.

“We’re talking to a number of exciting companies from startups to SMEs to larger corporates about joining us, as they need space to grow, rooted in Oxford.”

Charles Rowton-Lee, head of commercial agency at Savills Oxford, added: “The demand from science and tech companies needing workspace in Oxford is currently 650,000 sq ft, with limited availability.

“With Oxford North delivering stunning new flexible lab and workspace ready this time next year, in a prime location with access to amenities, talent and transport connectivity, we have significant interest from a range of companies.

“They’re either already based in Oxford or are looking to move into Oxford’s thriving ecosystem, which brings together academia and industry to deliver discoveries that will benefit us all.”

The new park and market square at Oxford North have been named after Professor Elizabeth Fallaize, who was a British academic, leading scholar in French Studies and pro-vice chancellor (education) of the University of Oxford.

In 1989, Professor Fallaize was appointed a fellow of St John’s College, Oxford, the first woman ever to hold the post, and played a leading role in the establishment of the women’s studies masters course.

Victoria Collett, development director at Thomas White Oxford, said: “Generations of undergraduate and graduate students benefited from Professor Fallaize’s teaching and scholarship.

“She was proud of and deeply committed to the college, enthusiastically supporting her peers and students, taking on many roles within both the college and university.

“Today we’re proud that her spirit will live on at Oxford North.”

Acting on behalf of Oxford North Ventures are Fletcher Priest Architects, Gustafson Porter + Bowman, Townshend Landscape Architects, Buro Happold, Savills, Turner Townsend Alinea, Gardiner & Theobald, Hoare Lea, Stantec, AKT II, Contemporary Art Society Consultancy, Endpoint, Spacecraft Consulting and Storey Consulting.