The Crown Estate has acquired the £4.5bn GDV Harwell East site next to the Harwell Science and Innovation Campus in Oxfordshire.
The 221-acre site, which sits within the Oxford-Cambridge Arc, could feature up to 4.5m sq ft of office, laboratory and advanced manufacturing space and up to 400 homes when it is fully built out.
The acquisition forms part of The Crown Estate’s commitment to invest up to £1.5bn in the science, technology and innovation sectors over the next 15 years.
Dan Labbad, chief executive of The Crown Estate, said: “The UK’s science, innovation and technology community is pushing the boundaries of progress in areas from AI to advanced manufacturing. But they need the specialised lab facilities and housing to realise potential. The ambition of Harwell East is to create the space for great science to flourish and to fuel growth and success not just in the region, but for the benefit of the whole country.
“This acquisition marks the latest step on our journey to support the UK’s fast-growing sectors. At a time when delivering world-class science, innovation and technology space is so important to the future prosperity of the country, our role to act in the long-term national interest makes us perfectly placed to unlock the potential of Harwell East and ensure that the UK stays at the forefront of global innovation.”
Science minister Lord Vallance added: “Harwell has been a byword for world-class science and innovation for well over half a century. There are very few places on the planet where you can find such a concentration of talent, infrastructure and entrepreneurship, which together are fuelling breakthroughs in everything from life sciences and clean energy, to space and particle physics.
“Opening up Harwell East could help the brilliant businesses and innovators based here to expand and tackle the great challenges of our era, with access to the labs, facilities and homes they need to do their work. The vast economic potential of this site underlines precisely why we are determined to fully unlock the Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor, as an engine for nationwide growth.”
Ed Bussey, CEO of Oxford Sciences Enterprises, said: “Harwell has long been a cornerstone of the Oxford ecosystem and this expansion will help unlock much-needed lab and mid-tech space to support scaling science and technology companies. The Oxford spinouts we build need the right kind of space at every stage of their journey – from start-up labs to scale-up manufacturing. The Crown Estate’s acquisition of Harwell strengthens the UK’s ability to grow and retain world-class innovation-led businesses.
“Oxford Science Enterprises is also proud to be working with The Crown Estate and Pioneer Group on the redevelopment of the former Debenhams building in Oxford city centre, creating expansion potential over and above the ambition for Harwell East. Together, these initiatives will ensure Oxford continues to nurture world-class research and enterprise and that the UK remains a global leader in science and innovation.”
Angus Horner, founder of Crucible, which is working with The Crown Estate to secure planning permission for Harwell East, added: “This is an exciting commitment by The Crown Estate, doubling down on the multi-generational success and world leading science and innovation at Harwell. This type of project is crucial now, if we are to fully leverage our skills and capabilities to supercharge UK plc and deliver improved social, health and economic wellbeing.”
