Planning application submitted for Magnet production facility in Oxford
Planning permission is being sought for an £80million super-conductor magnet production facility in Oxford north.
The planning proposal, submitted by Tritax Symmetry and Siemens Healthineers, is set to create over 1,500 jobs, if granted. It is unclear when Cherwell District Council will rule on the application.
Oxfordshire was chosen as the preferred location for the new plant, which would be in excess of half a million square foot in size, after an international and nationwide search to identify suitable sites.
If successful Siemens Healthineers Magnet Technology will relocate operations from Eynsham to Oxford.
The proposal centres on Symmetry Park which is north of the A41 and east of Junction 9 of the M40.
The plant will construct superconducting magnets for use in MRI systems.
Jonathan Dawes, planning director at Tritax Symmetry, said: "The development of this new world-class facility at Symmetry Park, Oxford North will safeguard the significant knowledge, expertise and embedded supply chain benefits that have been established over the last 40 years within Oxfordshire.
"The proposals set out are accompanied by a thorough and robust assessment of all relevant technical matters, including highways and transportation, landscape and visual impacts, ecology, archaeology and heritage, and flood risk.
"We have undertaken a thorough public consultation and have continued to liaise with local planning officers throughout the process."
Ralph Seidler, managing director of Siemens Healthineers Magnet Technology, Oxford, added: "Increasing demand for our superconducting magnets has meant we have outgrown our existing development and manufacturing facilities in Eynsham, located 13 miles away from Symmetry Park.
"Realising we needed a larger facility, we carried out an extensive search across the UK; this site is the only location that can meet our requirements.
"Subject to a positive planning outcome we will commence a phased transition from Eynsham to Oxford North, with changeover anticipated to complete by 2030, subject to the variable demand for product lines developed in the facilities."
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