Business & Technology
Larry Ellison’s ‘critical’ £1bn Oxford Science plan approved
Oxford city councillors on the planning committee all gave the thumbs up to Larry Ellison’s further plans for the science park off Grenoble Road in Littlemore.
Approval has been given to the Ellison Institute to extend the existing three buildings upwards and add two ‘link atriums’ connecting them together to form one large research and development centre.
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The first atrium will have walkways on all levels and will serve as the principal entrance, featuring meeting rooms, seminar space and a cafe.
And the second will have stepped terraces to accommodate shared workspaces, a concealed 250-seat auditorium and a greenhouse.
Now that the planning application has been granted permission, work that has already begun on-site from the initial plans can resume, having been put on hold pending the results.
Oxford City Council first approved plans for three separate lab and office buildings on plots 23-26 at the science park back in 2023.
It will include 30,000 sq m of research laboratories, supercomputing facilities, an oncology and preventative care clinic, plus a “state‑of‑the‑art” home for the Generative Biology Institute and the Plant Biology Institute.
Costing more than £1 billion, the campus was due to open fully in 2027, but timescales are likely to have been delayed amid these changed designs.
At the council meeting on Tuesday, June 23, Guy Wakefield, planner at built environment consultancy Ridge, and Matt Abney, senior director of real estate and projects at the Ellison Institute of Technology Oxford appeared for the development.
Mr Wakefield said the scheme is expected to support around 1,900 full-time equivalent roles in the construction phase rising to over 3,500 annual full-time equivalent roles, once the building is fully operational.
He added: “Another benefit is the actual operations that are taking place within the buildings and what will hopefully be achieved within them.”
The planner cited that part of its biology research will focus on food production, with the amount needed to be produced between now and 2050, higher than the last 5,000 years combined.
On the research, he said: “It’s critical to the sustainability of the environment and the world and we can’t see those needs ending.”
At the meeting questions were asked about tree planting, after a Thames Water pipe meant that an area of proposed trees had to be scrapped, as well as car park provision.
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The science park is in walking distance from the proposed Littlemore Station for the upcoming Cowley Branch Line, which will provide rail links to the city centre and London Marylebone.
As such plans for parking spots have already been reduced significantly, to a number the council deemed acceptable.
Larry Ellison, co-founder of tech giant Oracle, is reputed to be the fifth richest man in the world and is behind a number of other projects in and around Oxford.
That includes the refurbishment of world-famous pub The Eagle and Child.
The popular shopping centre in Oxford’s Queen Street already has an exciting mix of shops on offer, from first-class dining options to familiar high street favourites and world-renowned brands.
Now, the Westgate has welcomed the latest addition to its retail offering, as David Clulow opticians opened on Friday, June 26.
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The eye health specialist store showcases the brand’s modernised retail format, with state-of-the-art testing rooms and improved accessibility.
It’s broad product range also includes designer frames from the likes of Chanel, Prada and Ray-Ban.
The store is the latest edition to David Clulow’s store collection which is hosted in nearly 30 cities and shopping centres across the UK.
The introduction of the new shop is the latest in a long line of recent Westgate comings and goings in recent months.
Shoe chain Russell & Bromley has departed its ground-floor store, leaving the unit empty, after the brand fell into administration.
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Similarly, Claire’s has also closed at the Westgate after the beauty and accessory brand also collapsed into administration.
Last month, the new Lego store opened on the ground floor of the centre, welcoming queues of shoppers at its grand opening event.
Oliver Bonas also recently moved from its home on the ground floor to a much larger unit on the middle floor, near the Queen Street and Bonn Square entrance.
The scheme, designed to support attendance at Armed Forces Day events, will be in effect across the UK on June 27 and June 28.
It applies to all Stagecoach services except those operated by Megabus, Transport for London and the Bee Network.
To access free travel, serving military should wear uniform or present a valid military ID card, and veterans should present a veteran’s badge or military medal.
Martin Gibbon, managing director of Stagecoach West, said: “Our Armed Forces have given so much to protect our country, and offering free travel over this weekend is just a small gesture of our immense gratitude.
“We want to make it as easy as possible for our service people, past and present, to attend local events and celebrate with their communities.”
Stagecoach’s ongoing support for the military community includes similar free travel schemes on Remembrance Day and Remembrance Sunday.
The company’s Veterans Network also offers a platform for veterans and service families within the business to connect and shape a more supportive workplace.
Stagecoach was awarded the Armed Forces Covenant Gold Award in 2024 in recognition of its commitment to supporting the military community.
Mr Gibbon said: “Through our Veterans Network, we are dedicated to ensuring Stagecoach remains a deeply supportive environment for the military community, both as passengers and as valued colleagues.”
Stagecoach has backed the Armed Forces Covenant since 2015.
Banbury-based Prodrive has joined forces with the British Motorsports Marshals Club (BMMC) in a new three-year partnership to back the more than 3,000 marshals represented by the BMMC.
Easily recognised by their trademark orange overalls, marshals play a critical role in the safe operation of racing events across circuits, rally stages, and hill climbs throughout the UK.
David Richards, chairman of Prodrive, said: “Motorsport simply wouldn’t happen without marshals.
“They are the backbone of our sport, giving their time, commitment and passion to ensure events run safely and successfully.”
The partnership will focus on raising awareness of the marshals’ work using the idea of ‘British Racing Orange’ and aims to strengthen the connection between the sport and its volunteer workforce.
It will also support the BMMC’s efforts to recruit, train, and equip new and existing marshals.
Chris Hobson, chair of the BMMC, said: “Marshals are one of the most visible and vital parts of motorsport.
“Our partnership with Prodrive will help us continue training and equipping marshals, helping them stay safe every time they are trackside.
“By working together, we can inspire more people to discover marshalling and join the BMMC.”
While Prodrive’s factory programmes compete globally across disciplines including endurance racing, rally-raid and beyond, the company remains deeply connected to the UK motorsport ecosystem and the marshal community that supports it.
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