Mission Street, working in a joint venture with BentallGreenOak, is set to deliver a new 182,900 sq ft innovation facility on Botley Road in Oxford.
The developer plans to invest more than £100m to transform the site, which is currently occupied by DFS and Carpetright, into research and development and lab space. The existing tenants have leases running until 2024, with the timetable for the next steps expected to be informed by the council’s decision on the application.
The new building, designed by architectural firm NBBJ, is intended to achieve a BREEAM Excellent sustainability rating as a minimum and includes solar panels, air source heat pumps and EV charge points. It incorporates low-embodied-carbon design features, including a timber atrium structure and recycled cement replacement in the concrete frame.
The move comes as demand for this type of workspace currently outstrips supply, with in-town, connected locations much sought after by occupiers in the sector.
Colin Brown, development director at Mission Street, said: “This development will help to meet the enormous demand in and around Oxford for well-connected, high-quality, city centre innovation space. At the same time, it will respond to the needs of local residents, improving this part of Botley Road and potentially setting the standard for the wider future regeneration of the tired and underperforming Botley Road retail park area.”
The proposals form the second phase of the jv’s life sciences development on Botley Road following the Inventa scheme, which is already under construction and scheduled to come on stream in summer 2023. Savills is instructed to market the space and Willmott Dixon is the main contractor.
Stantec is advising the jv on planning.
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