The move by Nucleome Therapeutics into the Inventa building on Oxford’s Botley Road is an important step in the development of the city’s newest innovation district. The genome precision medicine company has taken around one-third of the 65,000 sq ft Inventa building that has been developed by Mission Street and BGO. Phase 2 of their development, the 180,000 sq ft Fabrica, will be available from 2026.
The two sites are at the gateway of an area of huge potential which could offer 2.5 million square feet of lab and office space in the next few years if more proposed developments take place.
A partnership programme called Oxford West End has been formed to drive forward an ambitious vision for a new urban innovation district for the city. Partners include Oxford City Council and Oxfordshire County Council, landowners such as Christ Church College and Nuffield College, Oxford University Development, and developers such as Mission Street and the initiative describes itself as a rare combination which has the long term stewardship of the city in mind.
The developments won’t be all about building commercial premises, but rather will seek to create a complete urban innovation district. A growing phenomenon in the past decade, these districts, complementary to out-of-town science parks, have been described as ‘geographic areas where leading-edge anchor institutions and companies cluster and connect with start-ups, business incubators and accelerators.’ (Bruce Katz and Julie Wagner, The Rise of Innovation Districts: A New Geographyof Innovation in America Brooking Institution, 2014)
Oxford West End will be a neighbourhood with homes, workspaces, public spaces and amenities, as well as easy access to the University and to city centre amenities. With the railway station nearby, it has excellent connectivity: over 14 million of the UK’s population live within an hour’s train journey of Oxford.
Included in the West End innovation district is Osney Mead, a 44-acre industrial site currently being considered for development by Oxford University Development, and Oxpens, one of the largest brownfields sites in the city, where plans for residential and commercial buildings connected by accessible public space near the river and meadows. Other smaller landholdings are also part of the overall scheme.
Further schemes on the Botley Road include British Land’s applications for three new office and research buildings.
The exciting plans for this part of the city, and its potential, is summed up by Artem Korolev, founder of Mission Street, who says: "In the global war for talent, science and innovation schemes must offer both a lifestyle and connectivity.”
Image Provided by Oxford West End Development Limited