Laing O'Rourke has scooped a contract to deliver phase 1a of Oxford North’s £700 million new innovation district, comprising the Red Hall, and the first two laboratory buildings.

Oxford North will deliver one million sq ft (92,903 sq m) of laboratory and workspaces, 480 new homes, hotel, nursery, cafes, bars, three public parks and infrastructure.

Outline planning permission for Oxford North's masterplan and detailed planning permission for phase 1a was granted in March 2021. Infrastructure enabling works started in August 2021 and have been completed. Subsequent Reserved Matters Applications (RMAs) to enhance and expand the Red Hall and central landscape were approved in March and October 2023 respectively.

Phase 1a will comprise the Red Hall which will deliver 43,500 sq ft (4,041 sq m) of co-working spaces, meeting and workspaces for science and innovation starts-ups and SMEs along with cafe-bar, retail units and community space, and Building 1 and 2 laboratory buildings which will total 115,000 sq ft (10,683 sq m). A market square and central landscape will form the new district’s community and cultural centre. Phase 1a is to target practical completion in Q2 2025.

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In addition, three new laboratory buildings, which total 458,000 sq ft (42,549 sq m), were given the green light by Oxford City Council in October 2023 and will be delivered in phase 2.

Following these planning approvals, Oxford North Ventures, the joint venture company of Thomas White Oxford, the development company of St John’s College, Cadillac Fairview and Stanhope, has entered into a contract with Laing O’Rourke as its construction partner to deliver phase 1a.

With social value integrated into the project via Oxford North’s Construction Employment Plan, Laing O’Rourke has made commitments to ensure local employment and training opportunities are built into procurement contracts, that they support 13 new apprentices, and provide education outreach and volunteering.

Laing O'Rourke will also bring to the project its expertise in modern methods of construction. By using an off-site approach, they will manufacture and quality check critical components of the project in its East Midlands factory before transporting them for assembly on-site.

Laing O'Rourke’s manufacturing-led approach to construction reduces programme and delivers improvements to quality, sustainability and worker safety. All components will be produced using low carbon concrete which will support Oxford North’s drive to deliver a more sustainable built environment.