PLANS have been submitted for a £90m science park in Kidlington that developers say would be “one of the world’s major research hubs”.

A planning application has been submitted to Cherwell District Council for Oxford Technology Park to be built in Langford Lane, opposite Oxford Airport.

Work could begin early next year on the site – a former playing field next to an ambulance station – and be fully completed by 2025.

The 40,000 sq m site would include two three-storey buildings and smaller buildings for offices, laboratories and warehouse space with 380 parking bays.

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Landowner Angus Bates, of Hill Street Holdings, said: “Subject to approval, this scheme will offer much needed, bespoke accommodation for hi-tech, research and development organisations in one of the world’s major research hubs. It will also bring 1,250 jobs to the area, positively contributing to the local economy.”

Oxford Mail:

Landowner Angus Bates of Hill Street Holdings

It is the major shareholder in the project and is in partnership with Bloombridge Development Partners.

Richard Cutler, a partner at Bloombridge, said: “We expect the development to attract pharmaceutical, biotech, and high performance engineering firms who want to enhance their research and development and production capability, in a format where they can have total freedom on how their space is configured.”

The site is part of Green Belt land around Langford Lane. The council is reviewing whether to remove land including the site from the Green Belt as part of its Local Plan of where future development should go.

The council’s draft Local Plan said: “Over the medium to longer term, progressive improvements to the Langford Lane employment area will be encouraged to accommodate higher value employment. Langford Lane has in recent years become a location for a wide range of commercial uses.

“The proposals in the plan aim to improve the quality of the employment offer and, in doing so, establish a new gateway at this northern entrance to Kidlington.”

Hill Street Holdings and Bloombridge have secured the 50-acre site of the Bicester Gateway development, which could create 990 jobs.

The business developmentis next to the A41 near Bicester Village.

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