Leading property developer Albion Land has unveiled ambitious new proposals for an £80 million sustainable business park development in Oxfordshire that could create more than 1,500 jobs in manufacturing, distribution and research and development sectors.
The 50-acre site in Bicester will be developed with up to 800,000 sq ft (75,000 sq m) of high quality buildings in response to specific employment occupier requirements. Albion Land’s master plan envisages units ranging from 80,000 sq ft to 200,000 sq ft.
“Known as Network Bicester, the planned development is on a site earmarked by Cherwell District Council for employment uses, and is in keeping with the adjoining ‘eco town’ proposals,” said Albion Land director Simon Parsons. An application for outline planning consent is expected to be submitted to the planning authority in early June.
“The development would bring a much-needed boost to Bicester’s economy. Bicester has been overlooked by major employers recently due to the lack of available employment land in the town. Large employment based requirements have instead focused on new developments in towns such as Banbury, Milton Keynes, Abingdon and Warwick,” he added.
In addition to needing prominent, well-located sites, major occupiers are also seeking opportunities with the best sustainability credentials. In response, Network Bicester will provide high quality bespoke facilities built to the highest environmental standards and performance levels. Each building will be constructed to a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating for specific occupiers.
Mr Parsons added: “We envisage that this prestigious and prominent development will appeal to major companies requiring headquarters, production, distribution and research and development facilities in a business park environment. They will be built to the highest environmental standards and performance levels.
“Bicester has suffered in recent years because it has not been able to offer viable relocation options to large, modern employment occupiers. The town has been left behind to a certain extent and has lost employment opportunities that have gone elsewhere. There are currently some very substantial employment requirements in the market but they will not be able to look at Bicester as an option unless this development is brought forward quickly.
“At Albion Land we are already talking to a number of potential occupiers who are interested in the project. Some are internationally known companies and others are dynamic locally based organisations. All have requirements for bespoke facilities from 80,000 sq ft to 200,000 sq ft. Network Bicester is an exciting new development and a fantastic opportunity for the town to create employment and attract significant investment.”
Network Bicester is located at the junction of the newly opened S.W Bicester Perimeter Road (Vendee Drive) and Howes Lane, with excellent links to the M40 junction 9 (2.5 miles), avoiding localised congestion around Bicester Village Outlet Centre. It is also close to the new Kingsmere Village development which plans to provide 1,600 new homes, a school, sports village and pub restaurant facilities.
The Cherwell Local Development Framework has identified that Bicester needs to attract more employers. It states that the key economic issues facing Bicester include:
· There is a need to make Bicester more attractive to new businesses, particularly knowledge based and high-technology companies.
· Some of Bicester’s employment areas are ageing and in need of rejuvenation.
· A greater range of employment space is needed.
· There is a significant imbalance between homes and jobs. Out-commuting is a particular problem with over 60% of residents leaving the town to work (ONS, 2001). In 2001, Bicester South and Bicester North wards jointly had the second highest percentage of workers in Oxfordshire travelling 60km or over to work (8.8% each).
A report drawn up by Colliers International, the world’s third largest commercial real estate agents, on behalf of Albion Land states that it is not aware of any other available employment land within Bicester “which would satisfy the criteria of modern businesses looking for a major new facility”. Colliers add: “We are also aware of a planned increase in the town’s population as considerable amounts of new housing are brought forward. An increase in labour supply would be another important factor in favour of Bicester as a location if suitable sites exist.”
The report concludes: “Colliers International wholeheartedly supports the proposals for a major new employment land release at Howes Lane, Bicester. The site offers an excellent opportunity to provide high quality, purpose-built facilities with excellent sustainability credentials. This will satisfy the demands of modern businesses and will help regenerate economic activity in Bicester, which has declined in relative terms over recent years. However, planning permission for employment development at Howes Lane needs to be secured urgently if the town is to attract any of the current market requirements and if further relocations from Bicester are to be headed off.”