EXCLUSIVE: Expansion plans for Tritax Park Oxford

By Liza Helps Property Editor Logistics Matters

THE INVESTOR developer has submitted full planning proposals to Cherwell Council to build nine units totalling 1.79 million ft2 on a 120-acre site that wraps round the Siemens Healthineers development which is currently under construction adjacent to Junction 9 of the M40 motorway.

The park will offer best in class buildings in units ranging from 98,252 ft2 to 317,492 ft2 with eaves height ranging from 16 – 21.5m to ridge with market leading ESG credentials including Net Zero Carbon in Construction, EPC A+  and BREEAM Excellent rating.

The land, while not on the Oxford greenbelt, is open fields currently used for agricultural use. The site has been identified as a draft allocation as a preferred employment site allocation in the Cherwell Local Plan Review 2042 Proposed Submission Plan.

The 604,000 ft2 Siemens Helathineers facility will design and manufacture superconducting magnets used for MRI patient scans and is part of the Government’s push for  the development of the Oxford Cambridge arc.

Tritax stated in planning documents: “The UK government has recently revived a strategic plan to build transport links and housing between Oxford and Cambridge, the latest sign that Labour is focusing on high-productivity areas of the economy in its push for growth. The government committed in the October Budget to deliver the East West Rail project that will revive the “Varsity” railway, which connected Oxford and Cambridge.

“The subject scheme, located in Oxfordshire, is just the type of proposal that the central and local government should support as will help ‘kick start’ the growth in the arc area. Oxfordshire is in the heart of the Government’s plans. Granting the proposals planning permission now i.e. meet need, will respond to the Government’s number one mission for growth.”

It estimated that the construction phase will generate around 720 onsite construction job years over the duration of the construction process (assuming a 4-year construction period, this equates to an average of 170 gross construction jobs per annum). 

While post-construction, the proposed development is anticipated to generate around 1,440 full time equivalent onsite and offsite jobs in Cherwell. 

The GVA added per year during the construction phase is estimated to be £8.3 million per year over 4 years. Finally, the on-site operational phase is expected to add around £54.2 million in GVA to the local economy a year.