With expansion a prime focus for businesses worldwide, many are looking towards rapidly establishing new regions of growth, particularly in Asia, Pacifi c Rim countries.
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heather@intlabmate.com The latest business developments from across Europe & Middle East
Oxford City Council Give Green Light to Advanced R&D Labs
Detailed designs for three new, prestigious laboratory and offi ce buildings which total 458,100 ft2 (42,549 m2) and will be built as phase 2 of Oxford North, the new £700 million life sciences innovation district, have been resolved to be approved by Oxford City Council’s planning committee.
Oxford North will deliver one million ft2 (92,903 m2) of laboratory and workspaces, 480 new homes, hotel, nursery, cafes, bars, three public parks and infrastructure.
With outline planning permission for Oxford North’s masterplan and detailed planning permission for phase 1a granted in March 2021, Oxford North Ventures, the joint venture company of Thomas White Oxford, the development company of St John’s College, Cadillac Fairview and Stanhope, submitted the applications for phase 2’s reserved matters (RMAs).
Phase 1a will comprise the Red Hall which will deliver 43,500 ft2 (4,041 m2) of co-working spaces, meeting and workspaces for science and innovation starts-ups and SMEs along with cafe-bar, retail units and community space, and Building 1 and 2 lab buildings which will total 115,000 ft2 (10,683 m2). The market square and central landscape will form the new district’s community and cultural centre. Phase 1a is to target practical completion in Q1 2025.
by Heather Hobbs
This section of International Labmate will especially look at the success of both Asian and European companies with established premises or business partnerships, highlighting the opportunities that exist while realising
potential for other companies to move into export markets.
Transfer to Maximise Synergies and Sharpen Focus on Growth
The Red Hall, marketplace and Plot C.
Oxford North has continued to provide a signifi cant stimulus for the local economy and employment market to create opportunities for local people. Since infrastructure enabling works started in August 2021, 448 jobs have been created of which 22% of people live in Oxfordshire. The project has also enabled eight new apprenticeships.
David Camp, CEO, Stanhope said: “We are creating a life-enhancing setting for workers, residents and visitors which invites discovery, supports community and enhances well-being.
“We have been working hard to ensure that phase 2 provides much-needed advanced R&D lab and offi ce buildings which have been purposefully designed for future life sciences occupiers giving them the opportunity to customise the fi t-out to their requirements and providing spaces for everyone to enjoy. We look forward to continuing to create construction jobs and vital new science and innovation space for Oxford.”
Oxford North’s Plot B lab building designed by WilkinsonEyre.
Phase 2’s Plots A, B & C RMAs were submitted following pre-application discussions, an Oxford Design Review Panel workshop and a four-week public consultation.
The applications were for the three laboratory buildings’ appearance, layouts and low carbon operation initiatives, alongside enhancements to the central and building- specifi c landscaping.
Plot A has been designed by Fletcher Priest Architects, the project’s masterplanners, and is a fl exible, four fl oor laboratory and offi ce building with dual frontage to the A40 and central landscaping which will total 117,300 ft2 (10,897 m2).
Plot B has been designed by Wilkinson Eyre and is a fi ve fl oor global HQ laboratory and offi ce building and will have its frontage on the A40. The building will total 177,900 ft2 (16,527 m2).
Plot C has been designed by Gort Scott and is a fi ve storey global HQ laboratory and offi ce building which will sit inside the central area and opposite the Red Hall and market square. It will total 162,900 ft2 (15,133 m2).
All three buildings will target BREEAM Excellent certifi cation and have 100% electric heating and cooling, effi cient lighting, high levels of fabric performance and optimised ventilation to incorporate heat recovery and solar PV technology. This will achieve a minimum 40% reduction in carbon emissions compared with 2021 Building Regulations.
Bicycle parking for phases 1a and 2 will total 668 spaces which will include 134 short-stay spaces.
Charles Rowton-Lee, head of commercial agency - Oxford, Savills added: “Demand for lab space in Oxfordshire is currently circa 1.2 million ft2 with just 5,000 ft2 of current supply. The delivery of Oxford North’s fi rst fi ve new lab buildings will be a signifi cant boost for both local and global life sciences companies to accelerate their discoveries here in Oxford. We are already in initial discussions with companies looking for such space, and today’s news means these conversations can be advanced.”
Jonathan Kendall, Partner, Director of Urban Design, Fletcher Priest Architects said: “Receiving approval for Plot A is another successful milestone in our ongoing role on the project, which we have been working on since the strategic masterplanning stage. These three new laboratory and offi ce buildings further reinforces the global ambitions for Oxford North to be a vibrant place which both enables and boosts discovery. It’s been a pleasure to collaborate with the expanding design team and work together to create a series of buildings which are complementary to one another, and to the fi rst phase buildings, as this new place is delivered.”
Stafford Critchlow, Director, WilkinsonEyre, added: “It has been a fascinating process to develop with the team an effi cient commercial life sciences building with an appropriate architecture and landscape setting in this signifi cant new place in Oxford.”
Acting on behalf of Oxford North Ventures are Fletcher Priest Architects, WilkinsonEyre, Gort Scott, AKT II, Hoare Lea, Gustafson Porter and Bowman, Alinea Consulting, Stantec, Savills, PFB, Reef Associates, People Friendly Design, BSG Ecology, and EDP.
More information online:
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Ben Cliff CEO Concept Life Sciences
Concept Life Sciences, a leading drug discovery, development and manufacturing organisation, marked the end of last year with the divestment of its Bradford analytical chemistry business to Cormica, a specialist in testing services for medical device and pharmaceutical manufacturers.
As both companies are part of the healthcare portfolio of private equity house, Limerston Capital LLP, the seamlessly executed agreement included the transfer of all employees to Cormica who remain located at the Bradford offi ce with business contining as normal.
Having recently undergone a signifi cant brand exercise, the new identity and name aligns with Cormica’s strategy for expansion in the UK, US and European markets through acquisition and organic growth.
The move has allowed Concept Life Sciences to sharpen focus on its core services spanning from drug discovery to early-stage development pathways. Established in 2017 through the acquisition of various enterprises, the company, acquired by Limerston Capital at the beginning of April last year, is renowned for its expertise in the pharmaceutical, biotech and agrochemical sectors.
Mark Hammond, CEO of Cormica, said: “Cormica has an ambitious growth strategy, trained on full service regulated testing across, physical, chemical and microbiology. We know the Bradford business and its team well and the opportunity to strengthen our expertise in analytical chemistry will signifi cantly strengthen our market position and provide an enhanced service to our customers.”
Ben Cliff, CEO of Concept Life Sciences said that 2023 had been busy and provided the much-needed chance to review operations and longer-term strategy which will to realise the company’s full potential.
At the time of the deal he commented: “Bradford has been an important part of our story so far; however its offerings align much more closely with Cormica which has a shared customer base and audiences. This deal will allow us to concentrate on our core service lines, working with our highly skilled team to drive our work in key markets.”
More information online:
ilmt.co/PL/8NOO 61499pr@reply-direct.com
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