Oxfordshire: VSL confirms year’s largest office and laboratory deal

Leading commercial property agents VSL & Partners has confirmed that the largest office and laboratory transaction in Oxfordshire has completed at Windrush Court in Cowley.

The former Astellas building, comprising approximately 71,000 sq ft of office and laboratory accommodation, has been acquired by Oxford Biomedica plc an Oxford University spin-out company.

Oxford Biomedica was founded in 1995 by Professors Alan Kingsman from the University of Oxford’s department of biochemistry and has since developed into one of the leading gene and immune therapy companies.

The acquisition consolidates the business geographically, being close to its nearby manufacturing facilities, and will provide the company not just with a new corporate headquarters but also with the opportunity to expand its existing R&D and manufacturing facilities with extensive new high-grade laboratory facilities.

Andrew Lockhart, director at VSL & Partners, said: ”Windrush Court is a good fit for Oxford Biomedica and an excellent outcome for Oxford. It enables the city to retain a home-grown successful R&D company, which will continue to be a world leader in its field and reap the benefits of additional employment as well as a significant investment in Oxford.”