The developers of the new 22 acre Oxford Technology Park, Hill Street Holdings, report that they have just hit the milestone of ¼ million sq ft of proposals issued to interested occupiers to take buildings on the Park, less than a year after obtaining outline planning permission.
Richard Cutler, of development partners Bloombridge LLP, said,
Oxford Technology Park is the first major release from the Oxford Green Belt for a generation, following a 13 year planning campaign, with the support of Cherwell District Council. It is a step in the right direction in helping Oxfordshire emulate the ‘Cambridge Phenomenon’ by starting to meet the pent up demand for technology space
Infrastructure works started in early summer and Reserved Matters are currently being discharged in order to deliver the first buildings during 2018.
What we have seen is that there is considerable latent demand from technology companies wanting to co-locate on the edge of Oxford in a purpose-built Technology Park, with bespoke designed buildings and ample power and data capacity. This Park can cater for 400,000 sq ft allowing sufficient critical mass for a new emerging cluster to be created, which is really exciting for Oxford
comments Angus Bates, Director at Hill Street Holdings.
This reflects the figures published in Bidwells latest research, ‘Our view on Oxfordshire’ Autumn 2017, reporting the highest half year take up on record in h1 2017, 72% of which was by ‘knowledge’ based businesses.
adds David Williams, Partner at Bidwells, joint agents with Benedicts.