All four plans for new labs in Oxford, totalling almost 50,000 sq m, have been approved.

Oxford City Council’s planning committee gave the thumbs up to two schemes at Botley Road, one at The Oxford Science Park and one at Oxford University’s Old Road campus, at its May 20 meeting.

The first two applications, totalling more than 30,000 sq m, both put forward by British Land, involve redevelopment of retail units at Botley Road Retail Park, all owned by the applicant.

The meeting heard the first application will create around 850 jobs while the second will create around 500.

After the second application was approved, David Bloy, planning director for British Land, said: “These plans are creating outstanding workspaces for the west of Oxford. This will help to meet local need and position the city as a hub for research excellence.

“Our two applications are closely linked and have been proposed with equal attention and care.”

Those sites sit alongside two Mission Street schemes in which lab space is replacing warehouses at Botley Road Retail Park.

Already completed is Inventa, a 6,000 sq m R&D space, about to welcome its third tenant (yet to be disclosed) alongside Nucleome and Xyme. Just three ground floor lab suites and one office remain to be let.

And demolition and site preparation has now been completed for 17,200 sq m Fabrica. Main contractor Bowmer + Kirkland will start construction imminently and that work is expected to complete in late 2026 or early 2027.

The meeting heard the third application – for a 9,306 sq m laboratory building (pictured) at Plot 27 at The Oxford Science Park (TOSP) – would help keep growing scientific firms at the fast-expanding park and bring an additional 440 jobs.

TOSP development manager Jitesh Patel said: “Many of our existing companies, many of which started life at the park as small start-ups, are now growing and need larger space and facilities to develop their ideas.

“Occupancy levels at the park are now nearing 100 per cent and Plot 27 will serve to provide this much-needed space to ensure we retain these much-needed companies on the park.”

A reserved matters application was approved for a 9,731 sq m lab building at Oxford University’s Old Road Campus in Roosevelt Drive, Headington.

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