Oxford: Office and lab complex gets green light as science demand soars

Magdalen College Oxford has gained consent for a 168,00 sq ft two building office and laboratory complex at the Oxford Science Park.

Oxford City Council’s East Area Planning Committee has backed the plans which will be developed on Plot 16 at the park and feature a central raised plaza and wider landscaping and accessibility enhancements.

Construction is planned to commence in Autumn 2020 and the council said will "represent one of the largest commercial workspace commitments Oxford has seen". The first building should reach practical completion by early 2022. Discussions are underway with a number of parties for pre-lets.

The central raised plaza, and the Plot’s eastern plaza at street level, have been designed to facilitate access to a railway station that will come with the planned re-opening of the Cowley Branch line.

The Oxford Science Park is owned by Magdalen College, Oxford and the plans for Plot 16 respond to the requirements of science and technology companies at the Park, across Oxford, and more broadly. The plans for Plot 16 are in addition to the new space for small to medium companies (SMEs), the Bellhouse Building, under construction for occupation in mid 2020.

Perkins and Will is the architect for Plot 16. Other professional design and planning team members include: Studio DBM, Hoare Lea, Campbell Reith, Core5, 3PM and Savills.

Piers Scrimshaw-Wright, CEO of The Oxford Science Park, said: "We are delighted Oxford City Council supports our ambitious plans for Plot 16. Oxford’s science and technology sector is thriving and at The Oxford Science Park we are witnessing unprecedented growth. The development of Plot 16 represents another major step in the evolution of the Park, and our plans are a catalyst for the re-opening of the Cowley Branch line which is an important infrastructure initiative that will reinforce our convenient connectivity with the City Centre."

Source: CoStar