Construction of two innovative structures marked for ground-breaking science center set to commence
Harwell Science and Innovation Campus Expands with New Employment Floorspace
The Harwell Science and Innovation Campus in Oxfordshire is set to grow further, with plans for a new employment floorspace project. The project, expected to be completed by the end of 2025, will provide a home for start-up, scale-up, and globally impactful companies.
The new site, which will be located in two buildings - Quad Three and Co:LABSs - is a significant part of the ongoing expansion at the campus. Co:LABS, the first phase of an innovation quarter, will deliver approximately 35,000 sqm of new employment floorspace.
Carter Jonas has been appointed to advise on all planning matters for the new site. The firm previously assisted Harwell Campus Partnership in securing planning permission for the new facility.
The new site is not explicitly stated to contribute directly to the Vale of White Horse Council's employment growth strategy. However, it may indirectly do so by accommodating start-up and scale-up companies, which are known for creating jobs and stimulating economic growth.
Harwell Campus is already a major hub for science and technology, hosting many organizations focused on space, energy, and research. It is the home of major scientific breakthroughs, including the UK's national synchrotron facility, the Diamond Light Source.
The campus is also the location of Oxford University's spin-outs, with the university currently spinning out more companies than any other location in the UK. Local universities, including Cranfield, are also present and contributing to the vibrant academic environment.
Approximately 7,000 research and support staff work across 250 organizations operating at the campus. The new site is expected to add to this number, further boosting employment in the area.
Construction of the new site is scheduled to begin this month. Extensive landscaping is planned to benefit both new and existing users of the campus. The plans also aim to contribute to the Vale of White Horse Council's employment growth strategy, although the specific details of these contributions are not yet clear.
It is worth noting that the new site does not seem to include extensive measures to optimize bus travel and reduce private car use, as stated in the Section 106 Agreement for the Quad Three and Co:LABSs buildings at Harwell Science and Innovation Campus. However, the Agreement does include measures to optimize bus travel and reduce the use of private cars.
This new site is not directly associated with the previously mentioned Mendip energy investments or garden village projects. It is a standalone expansion aimed at supporting the growth of science and technology businesses at the Harwell Campus.
For precise, current information on this development, readers are advised to consult official updates from the Harwell Campus management or recent government/local authority publications.
- The new employment floorspace project at Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, which includes Co:LABS, will not only provide a home for start-up and scale-up companies but also contribute to workplace-wellness by accommodating organizations focused on health-and-wellness, fitness-and-exercise, and science.
- The vibrant academic environment at Harwell Campus, already home to Oxford University's spin-outs, will be further enriched as the new site will also be the location of several health-and-wellness, fitness-and-exercise, and science-based start-ups and scale-ups, fostering innovation.
- The newly planned site at Harwell Science and Innovation Campus is anticipated to boost not just the employment in the area with the addition of new research and support staff, but also the community by encouraging collaboration between various science, health-and-wellness, fitness-and-exercise, and technology-focused companies, spurring economic growth and advancements in multiple sectors.
