Laing O’Rourke is to build a suite of facilities to launch a £700m innovation district in Oxford.
The contractor was appointed by the Oxford North development team to deliver phase 1a of the mammoth scheme.
Along with more than 90,000 square meters of laboratory and workspace, Laing O’Rourke will build 480 homes and facilities, including a nursery, hotel, cafes and bars, on a 25-hectare site.
The scheme is being led by St John’s College’s development arm, Thomas White Oxford, in partnership with property firm Stanhope and Canadian investor Cadillac Fairview.
Phase 1a, which received detailed planning consent more than two years ago, includes the five-storey Red Hall office block, as well as two laboratory buildings and a market square. This part of the district is expected to be completed in 2025.
Three more laboratory buildings were given the go-ahead by Oxford City Council this month, but they will be delivered in phase 2, outside the current contract.
Laing O’Rourke has committed to local employment and training opportunities, including 13 new apprenticeships.
The contractor will manufacture critical project components at its East Midlands factory, using low-carbon concrete, before transporting them for on-site assembly.
Martin Staehr, director of buildings at Laing O’Rourke, said: “We are proud to be part of this prestigious project to create a world-class science and research district.
“We will combine our experience of modern construction methods and knowledge of this specialist sector to create carbon efficient laboratories and workspaces alongside amenities.”
