Options sought for taller buildings at Milton Park
MEPC has launched talks with local communities over its plans to grow business space at Milton Park, Oxfordshire.
The company is seeking the revision of the existing local development order, which was adopted by the council in 2012 to simplify the planning regime and help bring new investment and jobs to the park. To date, it has helped to deliver over 550,000 sq ft of space across 14 buildings occupied by science and tech businesses including Oxford Immunotec, Adaptimmune, Evotec, Wave and Schlumberger.
The proposed changes would add an extra 215,000 sq ft of business space to the park through construction of taller buildings. This would permit to increase the floorspace of potential future developments by 6%.
MEPC has launched talks with local communities over its plans to grow business space at Milton Park, Oxfordshire.
The company is seeking the revision of the existing local development order, which was adopted by the council in 2012 to simplify the planning regime and help bring new investment and jobs to the park. To date, it has helped to deliver over 550,000 sq ft of space across 14 buildings occupied by science and tech businesses including Oxford Immunotec, Adaptimmune, Evotec, Wave and Schlumberger.
The proposed changes would add an extra 215,000 sq ft of business space to the park through construction of taller buildings. This would permit to increase the floorspace of potential future developments by 6%.
The additional floors could provide more offices, labs, storage and industrial facilities alongside a new hotel with conference space, shops, cafés, outdoor sports equipment, and a crèche or day nursery.
Philip Campbell, commercial director at MEPC Milton Park, said: “The refreshed LDO would enable Milton Park to continue supporting the region’s science and innovation engine post-Covid, and ensure future development can provide a positive response to the challenges posed by climate change.
“At the same time, the refreshed LDO would cover the same area as under the existing adopted LDO, while the total permitted floorspace would increase by only six per cent over what is permitted under the current LDO.”
The move comes as lab space in both Oxford and Cambridge has reached 0% while demand continues to grow. In order to speed up the pace at which new space is coming on stream, Rishi Sunak, as part of his Conservative leadership campaign, had promised planning reforms which were welcomed by the industry.
To send feedback, e-mail evelina.grecenko@eg.co.uk or tweet @gre_eve
Image © MEPC
