Lawrence J Ellison Institute for Transformative Medicine has submitted fresh plans to Oxford City Council, seeking approval to begin the redevelopment of Littlemore House on the Oxford Science Park.
Earlier this year, the council approved the institute’s proposals to create a research and development hub. Initial plans comprised a new-build facility on plot 18 – a 3.5-acre site which the institute bought on a 150-year lease from TOSP – and the conversion of Littlemore House, which sits on a 5.9-acre site acquired by the institute in December 2021.
The new plans cover just Littlemore House and exclude proposed work on the walkway and plot 18. The move comes amid biodiversity issues raised by the Environmental Agency with regards to plot 18, which is holding up the development.
The application, which was prepared by Ridge on behalf of the institute, states: “The applicant continues to try and resolve [the Environment Agency’s] comments but in order to mitigate against any further unnecessary delays and to allow a meaningful start on site, the applicant has decided to submit a standalone application for just the proposed works at Littlemore House.”
The site was part of the wider Littlemore Hospital site and was converted into research and development space in the 1980s before being occupied by SAE Institute for a media college and office space.
Following the transformation, designed by Foster + Partners, Littlemore House is expected to span 213,000 sq ft, and will include a recreation hall, central atrium, research laboratories, restaurant, administrative space and storage.
To send feedback, e-mail evelina.grecenko@eg.co.uk or tweet @Gre_Eve or @EGPropertyNews
