Savills Secures Planning Permission for Three New Buildings at Oxford Science Park

Savills Secures Planning Permission for Three New Buildings at Oxford Science Park

(IN BRIEF) The Oxford Science Park has been granted planning permission by Oxford City Council for the development of three buildings that will provide 65,539 sq. ft. of laboratory and office space. Savills planners secured the unanimous resolution from the council, following the successful proposal for a development adjacent to the future Cowley Branch Line Station. The development aims to provide high-quality, flexible headquarter office and laboratory accommodation and will be designed with a pedestrian-focused landscaping strategy that enhances biodiversity. The new buildings will incorporate sustainable features and target a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating.

(PRESS RELEASE) LONDON, 15-Mar-2023 — /EuropaWire/ — Savills (LON: SVS), one of the world’s leading property advisors, announces that it has secured an announced a unanimous resolution from Oxford City Council to grant planning permission for 65,539 sq. ft. of laboratory and office space across three buildings on Plots 23-26 at The Oxford Science Park. The development will provide high-quality, flexible headquarter office and laboratory accommodation across three buildings, with below podium and multi-deck car parking.

The resolution to grant planning permission at 23-26 follows a successful proposal put forward by Savills for 34,000 sqm of adaptable office and laboratory accommodation at Plot 16. This development is now under construction next to the site of the future Cowley Branch Line Station.

A pedestrian-focused landscaping strategy has been designed to create an attractive and connected campus that will protect and enhance biodiversity, while the buildings will incorporate sustainable features, such as vertical PV panels. The scheme, which aims to minimise carbon use during construction, is targeting a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating.

The project team from Savills included planning experts from London and Oxford, with support from Savills Economics and Savills Environment & Infrastructure teams. The Oxford Science Park is home to over 70 businesses and over 3,350 employees, making it one of Europe’s leading locations for science and technology.

Emma Andrews, a director in Savills planning team in London, commented: ‘This latest success is a key milestone in an ambitious long-term strategy by The Oxford Science Park to ensure the city remains at the forefront of innovation in the life sciences sector. The new buildings at 23-26 will provide much-needed high-specification space for new companies and supporting the continued growth of the existing community.’

‘Life sciences are critical to Oxford’s future growth yet supply does not measure up to demand,’ added Peter Brampton, a senior planner in Oxford; ‘Recent  research by Savills estimates the scale of demand for commercial space at over 2 million sq. ft. – this is primarily from the life sciences sector – therefore this success and the work of The Oxford Science Park is hugely important.’

The development of Plots 23-26 is part of important plans to support Oxford’s long-term position as a global leader in science and technology research, building on the reputation of its academic institutions and recent high-profile success in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The project team is targeting a construction start date in Q3 2023 with practical completion targeted for Q3 2024.

Media contacts:

Emma Andrews
Director, Planning
+44 (0) 20 3810 9842

Peter Brampton
Associate Planner, Planning
+44 (0) 18 6526 9092

SOURCE: Savills