Oxfordshire: Crowcon relocates to purpose-built HQ at Milton Park

More than 200 people from Abingdon-based Crowcon Detection Instruments (“Crowcon”), the gas detection specialist, have successfully relocated into a brand new, purpose-built headquarters at MEPC’s Milton Park in Oxfordshire, which is part of the Government’s Science Vale Enterprise Zone.

Crowcon, part of Halma plc, had outgrown its current headquarters at Abingdon Business Park where it had been based for over 25 years.

Crowcon’s new Milton Park facility at 172 Brook Drive totals 40,000 sq ft, a 30% increase on their old facility, and accommodates all its existing functions plus additional customer training and product demonstration facilities; full service test and calibration laboratories and improved employee facilities.

The plans for the new state-of-the-art facilities were submitted through the Milton Park Local Development Order which simplified the planning process and resulted in an earlier construction start, taking just six months to build from February 2014 to completion in July 2014.

Mike Ophield, Crowcon managing director, explained: “After more than two years’ planning, I am really delighted to see our brand new facility come to life. As an international company, we are fortunate that Milton Park is both a hub for science and innovation
and an excellent location with great transport links.”

Andrew Barlow, commercial director at MEPC’s Milton Park, added: “Crowcon is another outstanding company to welcome to Milton Park. Not only is it a leading international business that is expanding at an incredibly fast rate, but it is a pioneer in the field of gas detection. We are very proud to have delivered Crowcon its new impressive HQ in such a concentrated timeframe and are sure that everyone in the company will benefit from being part of what is a dynamic and diverse business and science community.”

Crowcon has taken the facility on a 15-year lease which represents the first significant pre-let in the Enterprise Zone.