Construction has started on a £250million science facility in Oxfordshire with politicians saying it is "brilliant news" for the county and developers highlighting the site will create hundreds of new jobs.
Siemens Healthineers has announced it will be building the UK's first major production site for new MRI cooling technology at the Symmetry Park near Bicester.
Government cabinet members and the prime minister himself attended an event which marked the formal announcement and the start of construction.
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Victoria Prentis who is MP for Banbury said: "It was great to join the Chancellor in Bicester this morning to break ground on a brand new facility for Siemens Healthineers.
"This is exactly the right kind of development we need locally. Building here is a vote of confidence in our economy and demonstrates that North Oxfordshire remains at the top of the list of destinations for companies to invest.”
The 1300 new jobs supported by the site include retention of over 600 already-existing Oxfordshire based jobs at the existing Siements Healthineers facility in Eynsham, West Oxfordshire.
County councillor Calum Miller for the Otmoor division says he welcomes the new jobs but had some concerns around making sure no additional pressure would be placed on surrounding transport infrastructure.
The Liberal Democrat said: "I welcome investment that brings high quality jobs to our area. Siemens are wisely tapping into the highly skilled workforce in and around Bicester.
"At the same time, local residents tell me they are concerned by the scale of developments and speed of change in our area. We need to make sure that new developments are in suitable locations and have the right infrastructure to support them.
"The new Siemens plant will put additional pressure on the A40. So there needs to be reliable public transport and safe cycling routes to this new site and we need Highways England to bring forward the improvements to Junction 9 that local residents know are desperately needed."
Siemens Healthineers is saying it will "renewing its education commitments to the local community" including provision of mentoring services to students in nearby schools as well as increasing apprenticeship intake by a quarter over a three-year programme.
Layla Moran, MP for Oxford West and Abingdon, said: “This is brilliant news for Oxfordshire. The county is yet again at the forefront of driving technological innovation, especially in medicine.
“This facility will create jobs, boost the local economy and provide vital high-level healthcare for local people.”
Developer Tritax Symmetry says the buildng is to be 'carbon-neutral' in operation.
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