Three new laboratory and office buildings encompassing 42,549m2 will be built as phase two of Oxford North, the new €811 mln Life Sciences Innovation District in the UK city after detailed designs for the project were approved by Oxford City Council's planning committee.
Oxford North will deliver over 92,903 m2 of laboratory and workspaces, 480 new homes, a hotel, a nursery, cafes, bars, three public parks and infrastructure.
The developers - a joint venture company of Thomas White Oxford, the development company of St John’s College, Cadillac Fairview and Stanhope, submitted the applications for phase 2 after having received outline planning permission for Oxford North’s masterplan and detailed planning permission for phase 1a granted in March 2021.
Phase 1a comprising the Red Hall with 4,041 m2 of co-working spaces, meeting and workspaces for science and innovation starts-ups and SMEs along with cafe-bar, retail units and community space, and Building 1 and 2 lab buildings, is targeting practical completion in Q1 2025.
David Camp, chief executive officer, Stanhope said: 'We are creating a life-enhancing setting for workers, residents and visitors which invites discovery, supports community and enhances well-being. We have been working hard to ensure that phase 2 provides much-needed advanced R&D lab and office buildings which have been purposefully designed for future life sciences occupiers giving them the opportunity to customise the fit-out to their requirements and providing spaces for everyone to enjoy. We look forward to continuing to create construction jobs and vital new science and innovation space for Oxford.'
Charles Rowton-Lee, head of commercial agency - Oxford, Savills added: 'Demand for lab space in Oxfordshire is currently circa 1.2 million ft2 with just 5,000 sq ft of current supply. The delivery of Oxford North’s first five new lab buildings will be a significant boost for both local and global life sciences companies to accelerate their discoveries here in Oxford. We are already in initial discussions with companies looking for such space, and today’s news means these conversations can be advanced.'
