The Science Park’s Plot 16 could be a catalyst for new railway station

The Oxford Science Park, located just off the A34 south of Oxford, is seeking planning permission for a major new development phase on its Plot 16.

The site will provide 165,000 sq ft of workspace for offices and labs across two buildings.

“The site will provide 165,000 sq ft of workspace for offices and labs across two buildings”

Construction is planned to begin in 2020 and is believed to represent the largest speculative commercial workspace commitment Oxford has seen in a generation. The buildings should reach practical completion by the end of 2021.

A central raised plaza has been designed to give access to the planned railway station which should materialise with the re-opening of the Cowley branch line in 2022. Plot 16 is part of the Oxford Science Park’s plans for further expansion, attracting more science and technology occupiers to the site four miles east of the city centre, while providing grow-on space for those already on site.

Piers Scrimshaw-Wright, CEO of the Oxford Science Park, said: “By applying for planning permission, we are putting in place a major step in the evolution of the Park. Our plans are a catalyst for the re-opening of the Cowley branch line, which is an important infrastructure initiative that key Oxford City stakeholders will want to see delivered.”

The Oxford Science Park is owned and managed by Magdalen College, Oxford. It consists of 750,000 sq ft of workspace and is home to more than 130 businesses and 2,700 staff.