A new £9 million innovation building designed to support Oxford’s growing science and technology sector has officially opened in Headington, creating new laboratory space for businesses while expanding STEM education opportunities across the region.
The Oxford Trust formally opened the Aspen Building at the Wood Centre for Innovation on Friday, marking the latest investment in its mission to help science and technology companies start, grow and remain in Oxford.
The 17,000 sq ft development provides specialist CL2 laboratory and office space for start-ups, small businesses and scaling science companies operating within the Headington Science Cluster, one of the UK’s leading centres for health and life sciences.
Alongside commercial laboratory space, the building includes a dedicated STEM resources room that will allow Science Oxford, part of The Oxford Trust, to expand its education and outreach programmes across Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire.
The opening comes amid continuing demand for specialist laboratory accommodation across Oxford, where a shortage of flexible research space has become one of the challenges facing the city’s rapidly expanding innovation sector.
The Aspen Building sits beside the fully occupied Linden Building at the Wood Centre for Innovation, reflecting continued demand from companies seeking to establish themselves within Oxford’s internationally recognised science ecosystem.
Once fully occupied, the building is expected to support around 80 additional jobs, adding to the approximately 350 people already employed by companies based within The Oxford Trust’s two innovation centres.
Construction of the project also supported around 600 jobs across the supply chain, including approximately 80 local roles.
Designed with sustainability in mind, the building has achieved a BREEAM Excellent rating and incorporates photovoltaic solar panels, battery storage, air source heat pumps, rainwater harvesting and biodiversity improvements across the surrounding woodland site.
Speaking at the opening, The Oxford Trust said the investment represents the next stage of its charitable model, where income from commercial innovation space is reinvested into science education and community engagement programmes.
Chief executive Steve Burgess described the development as both an investment in Oxford’s innovation economy and in future generations of scientists and engineers through Science Oxford’s educational work.
The facility was officially opened by Oxford East MP Dame Anneliese Dodds in the presence of civic leaders including Oxford City Council leader Susan Brown, the Lord Mayor of Oxford Councillor Chewe Munkonge and Oxfordshire’s Lord-Lieutenant Mrs Marjorie Glasgow.
Over the past year, The Oxford Trust says it has supported 28 science and technology businesses while Science Oxford engaged more than 32,000 young people, families and community participants through STEM education and public engagement activities.
The opening of the Aspen Building further strengthens Headington’s position as one of Oxford’s principal science and innovation hubs as the city continues to expand its global life sciences sector.
