Railpen secures consent for flagship life sciences campus in Oxford
Railpen, manager of the £34bn railways pension scheme, has been granted consent by Oxford City Council to redevelop Eastpoint Business Park in the city to create a 200,000 sq ft market-defining life sciences campus.
Positioned in a prime location two miles south-east of Oxford city centre and in close proximity to Oxford Business Park and Oxford Science Park, the Scott Brownrigg-designed scheme will comprise three four-storey laboratory buildings and a single-storey amenity building. The space will suit a wide range of tenants and provide occupiers with flexibility, with 55% CL2 laboratories and 45% offices to facilitate cutting-edge research and collaboration.
The redevelopment will also include a significantly enhanced public realm, prioritisation of pedestrian movement, active ground floors and high-quality public amenities. Another key feature is its integration with the local community, with the revitalised scheme conceived as a focal point for interaction between STEM and educational outreach. A ‘Learning Lab’ will provide local students with access to state-of-the-art facilities and access to professionals working in the STEM sector, while a publicly accessible café, social hub and green space will create a communal heart.
Railpen is targeting BREEAM ‘Outstanding’, WELL, Wired and Smart Platinum ratings for the development, as well as Cycle Score Platinum. Additional features will include a ‘Travel and Energy hub’ to promote sustainable travel and pocket parks to enhance user wellbeing. The latest intelligent building technologies, renewable energy, and biodiverse balconies and roofscapes will reduce embodied carbon and enhance biodiversity.
Richard Van Lente, Senior Asset Manager at Railpen, commented: “There is strong demand for state-of-the-art laboratories in Oxford, which our plans for Eastpoint will help to address. More than that, however, they will make a significant contribution to the STEM sector in the city, facilitating meaningful interaction between research, commerce, education and the community.
“We believe this approach will further increase the appeal of the space among leading national and international research companies, which in turn will deliver enhanced long-term returns for our members and a lasting legacy for Oxford.”
Railpen purchased the business park in 2023 as its first entry into the Oxford life sciences market, following its significant investment in the Cambridge innovation sector. Across the Oxford-Cambridge Arc, Railpen is creating an innovation cluster consisting of a series of flagship laboratory, office and mixed-use assets. Each will meet the significant demand from occupiers for such space, achieve a lasting positive legacy in both cities, and deliver strong returns for its members. In addition to Eastpoint, these include Devonshire Gardens and Botanic Place in Cambridge.