Plans to demolish five office buildings in Oxford for a lab development have been recommended for approval – but face a serious objection from an existing occupier.
Railpen has applied for full planning permission to demolish all five buildings at Eastpoint Business Park at Sandford Gate, off Sandy Lane West, for a scheme of more than 20,000 sq m of life sciences R&D lab space in three new buildings.
Members of Oxford City Council’s planning committee will decide the scheme on October 15 and officers have recommended approval. Both the existing and proposed schemes are within Use Class E.
But specialist cancer treatment provider Genesis Care, which occupies two of the current buildings – Beaumont House and Orion House – has leases there which run until 2033 and 2043 respectively.
However, the scheme’s outline programme of works indicates demolition starting June 2025.
Genesis has employed Capsticks solicitors to raise its objection. Its legal representation to the council states: “A lack of engagement with us by the applicant and sparse information provided within the planning application has caused concern as to how the applicant intends to overcome the leasehold tenancy agreements that are in place.”
The letter says Genesis was given no pre-application discussion or engagement on the planning application documents as a whole.
It goes on: “If the Council are minded to grant planning permission for the development without resolving these issues, the tenant may be forced to leave prematurely, which will have serious impacts on the important cancer care service it provides to patients from across the UK.”
The proposed scheme, just off the busy Eastern By-Pass (A4142), will provide three four-storey lab buildings with an ancillary pavilion amenity building and travel and energy hub for servicing, parking and cycle parking on the site. There will be a total 303 parking spaces.
The team on the project includes Savills on planning, Scott Brownrigg on architecture and AECOM as cost manager.
© Thames Tap (powered by ukpropertyforums.com).
Sign up to receive our weekly free journal, The Forum here.
