£100 MILLION PROJECT STARTS AT CATALYST BICESTER

Building at Catalyst Bicester, the new £100 million advanced manufacturing and technology business community which includes a David Lloyd Health and Racquets Club, has started.

Once complete, Catalyst Bicester will total 300,000 sq ft and provide workspace for up to 1,750 new jobs. The first four technology buildings will range in size from 10,000 sq ft to 22,000 sq ft and be ready for businesses to occupy next year.

Construction of the new health and racquets club, which will include a gym, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, courts, café and restaurant is due to start soon.

Catalyst Bicester is just off the A41 adjacent to the Bicester Avenue retail centre and the new Holiday Inn.

This is the third major investment in Bicester by developers Albion Land. Director Simon Parsons said: “Catalyst Bicester will provide a new style of development in response to demand from technology, advanced manufacturing and high-performance engineering companies and create many new jobs, while helping to reduce out-commuting from the town.”

Bicester Motion seeks £140 million investment

A former RAF base is undergoing a radical regeneration to turn it into a hub for motorsport, automotive innovation and classic car enthusiasts.

Now the company behind the project, Bicester Motion, is seeking £140 million to further its ambitions.

The project began in 2013 when Dan Geoghegan used his love of historic cars and a successful career in private investment and venture capital, to turn a former RAF bomber station into the UK’s first centre of excellence for historic vehicles.

Eight years later and Bicester Heritage, the first of the four planned quarters, is now home to more than 40 specialist businesses turning over more than £40 million.

The three other quarters will consist of an Innovation Quarter, which received outline planning consent last year (this will o er access to automotive development and testing), an Experience Quarter o ering visitors the opportunity to discover the latest wheels and wings technology and a Wilderness Quarter, a park and nature trail.