Oxford Science Park
Plot 16
The vision
Plot 16 is a phased 15,600sqm development that will deliver office and lab space in two buildings divided by a raised central plaza. The buildings are ground plus 4nr stories with ground and level 1 a dedicated car park for the project with over 500 parking spaces. The plans feature a central raised plaza with wider landscaping, space for public artwork and accessibility enhancements.
The project is envisioned to be sustainable and eco-friendly and is targeting achieving a BREEAM 2018 ‘Excellent’ rating. The site is complex, sandwiched between the Cowley Branch freight line to the North and the Littlemore brook to the south and has been designed to accommodate a potential new train station creating a ‘sense of arrival’ from all sides. The project includes consultation with both Network Rail and Chiltern Railways, amongst others.
Plot 16 also includes the acquisition and relocation of an active Thames Water facility to free up the land for Phase 2 of the development. 3PM also led this separate scheme through complex negotiations and design stages with Thames Water which involved the relocation of an existing Thames Water pumping station.
The project achieved planning permission in December 2019 and subsequently reached the end of Stage 3+ in September 2020 when the project was put on hold, pending tender issue.
Our Role
3PM were appointed as Project Manager and Contract Administrator at the start of RIBA Stage 1 in December 2018. Having worked on other projects within the Oxford Science Park we were able to use our existing knowledge to manage the team and design in line with the Client’s aspirations and project brief. Working around the existing site constraints, 3PM facilitated the design and programming of this phased scheme through planning, procurement and to Stage 3+.