London Oxford Airport, the UK’s fifth-ranked busiest business aviation airport, is pivoting to offer a prospective new centre for innovation and green tech with a proposed new R&D science park at the entrance to the Airport.  While focused on the burgeoning life sciences sector, it states the new facility would also appeal to new Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) and Urban Air Mobility (UAM) players and their affiliates, championing innovations in motors, batteries, composites, hydrogen, synthetic and alternative fuels,  all of which are already evolving in the vicinity.

The planning hearing on the all-new Research and Development Science Park on land at the entrance to the airport in Kidlington is scheduled this week.

The estimated £35+ million initiative will aid and encourage the incubation of innovation and tech start-ups and spin-offs, typically from university-inspired projects.

The scheme proposes five new research and development buildings housed in a green campus environment, offering over 200,400 ft².  It will feature a stand-alone café facility, within a generous new landscaped courtyard space.   The Science Park will offer space for up to 17 tenants with units from around 7,700 ft², up to 56,300ft² for a complete building.

In readiness, the airport has already embarked on demolishing some old buildings, including the former 1960’s-era Oxford Aviation Services trainee accommodation block.    The project will take an estimated 24 months to complete.  Some of the positions will also have airside frontage, potentially more attractive for any aviation-related activities.

“While Cambridge has arguably been a frontrunner on courting many R&D enterprises and start-ups in the last couple of decades, Oxford has definitely caught up.  It’s very much the most vibrant, top choice city now for fostering innovation,” said James Dillon-Godfray, Head of Business Development at London Oxford Airport.  “This new initiative answers some of Oxfordshire’s demand for high-quality, laboratory-enabled space for technology and life science companies to grow and thrive.”

“The scheme will sit alongside similar developments right next door at the new Oxford Technology Park and Begbroke Science Park, further cementing Oxford’s leading position in the life science and R&D research sectors,” he added.

Furthermore, PWC has just highlighted “Oxford has been the highest performing city in our Index since 2017” in its Good Growth for Cities 2023 report.