Oxford Bulletin

The Oxford planning team have secured planning permission for two large projects at Harwell Campus, each with national strategic importance. The first was a 4,170m² research and development building to house the recently established Rosalind Franklin Institute which is dedicated to bringing about transformative changes in life science through interdisciplinary research and technology development. The namesake of the institute, the pioneering X-ray crystallographer Rosalind Franklin, was one of the key figures in the discovery of the structure of DNA, and used a technique with roots in physics and technology to transform life science. The Institute will follow in this spirit, developing unique new techniques and tools and applying them for the first time to biological problems.

The second building was the 10,697m² National Satellite Test Facility which will address an identified need by the UK Space Agency for a central facility in the UK. The new test facility will provide a world class set of co-located facilities for the assembly, integration and testing of space payloads and satellites. The new facility will enable UK companies to develop the next generation launch technologies and testing capabilities to allow the UK to construct satellites and deliver payloads into orbit. Access to co-located world-class facilities will enable UK industry to bid competitively for more national and international contracts and ensure the UK remains a world-leader in space technologies for decades to come.

The team were delighted to have secured these two consents on behalf of the Science and Technology Facilities Council as the first steps in the delivery of these exciting projects.

For further information, please contact;

Nicky Brock
Partner, Planning & Development
01865 297706
Nicky.Brock@carterjonas.co.uk

As an office, we were pleased to have been shortlisted in three categories at the OxPropFest Awards this year:

• Best Property Advisor / Agent
• Futures Award of The Year: Tom Vecchione, a surveyor within our Commercial Valuations team, has been shortlisted within this category
• Project of the Year: submitted on behalf of The Oxford Science Park for their Schrodinger Building

The ceremony took place on Thursday 11th April at Keble College, Oxford. Please join us in congratulating Tom Vecchione on winning his award category of ‘Futures Award of The Year’.

For further information, please contact;

Gillian Mealy
Business Manager
01865 404405
Gillian.Mealy@carterjonas.co.uk

Oxfordshire is providing highly resilient to the wider economic uncertainty, helped by its focus on the knowledge sectors, which are driving market activity. The main constraints are on the supply rather than the demand side. On Wednesday 6 March, the Carter Jonas team welcomed more than 50 colleagues and associates from across its network to Saïd Business School, for the launch of the firm’s annual Oxfordshire Commercial Edge research report. As well as providing guests with a comprehensive update on the market, it was an opportunity to garner their thoughts on upcoming developments, and discuss new trends and opportunities across the region.

View the research reports here.

For further information, please contact;

Jon Silversides
Partner, Commercial
01865 404458
Jon.Silversides@carterjonas.co.uk

Carter Jonas Lettings were instructed by an educational establishment to let 11 houses on Woodstock Road in Oxford City Centre. A tenant was quickly found to take all 11 houses on a three year tenancy to start in September 2019. This left a potential void period of 6 months before this tenancy started. Carter Jonas was re-instructed to let all 11 houses on a short term basis for 6 months. Within 6 weeks all 11 houses were re-let on a short term basis so the houses were at full occupancy – 22 lettings in total!

For further information, please contact;

Christopher Way
Partner, Residential Lettings
01865 404425
Christopher.Way@carterjonas.co.uk

The six Oxfordshire authorities – city, districts and county have committed to a joint strategic local plan.

This is as a result of a ‘Housing & Growth Deal’ with government that has seen a commitment to deliver 100,000 new homes by 2031 and further ‘ambitious’ new homes targets by 2050.  

In return, the region will receive funding for infrastructure and affordable homes. This is also an opportunity for Oxfordshire to engage with national strategic plans such as the Cambridge to Oxford ‘Arc’ and the potential expressway.

Carter Jonas has begun to engage with the authorities and their dedicated team of officers on behalf of a range of clients including: major strategic development site promotors (1,000 – 3,5000+ dwellings); science parks and campuses; public sector research and healthcare organisations; smaller site owners; and, private individuals.    

The authorities have a two year timetable to develop this plan, so work is due to progress at some pace. The next consultation is due in the autumn of this year. Carter Jonas is excited to be part of a co-ordinated and regional response to the challenge of housing and economic growth nationally and have high hopes that this plan can deliver on both our, and our client opportunities and aspirations.

For further information, please contact;

Peter Canavan
Associate, Planning & Development
01865 819637
Peter.Canavan@carterjonas.co.uk

Carolyn Puddicombe, partner, has joined our Oxford office to lead Carter Jonas’ further expansion into the national education sector. In September 2018, Carolyn Puddicombe joined the Oxford office’s consultancy and strategy offering to head up Education (National). Carolyn is working with colleagues from across Carter Jonas’ network of 34 offices to build on the team’s existing experience in the sector and implementing the firm’s long-term growth strategy to deliver a comprehensive property consultancy service within the education sector.

Carolyn has an established client base in Oxfordshire and has offered expert advice in development and managed the planning process for major capital projects including public consultations, options appraisals and liaison with hospital trusts.

Carolyn joined from the University of Oxford and is a qualified planning and development Surveyor and a Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.  Before joining the University of Oxford, she was Director of Estates & Services at Bath Spa University and has also held planning and development roles in both the private and public sector.

Previously Head of Residential, Mark Charter was appointed as Head of Rural and is working closely with his 10-strong team to deliver a full range of estate management and rural property advisory services across the region.

Mark was succeeded as Head of Residential by Simon McConnell who was welcomed to the Residential team with more than 30 years’ of residential property experience in the region. Simon worked for Adkin and as a Director at Thomas Merrifield, where he was based for 20 years having founded the Abingdon office in 1997. Additionally, in July 2016 he was appointed Governor of Christ’s Hospital of Abingdon, the oldest of Oxfordshire’s charities, helping to oversee the organisation’s priorities - including the provision of Almshouses and care and educational support to people in need – and future plans. In his new role, Simon is expanding the residential team’s geographical reach as well as the wide range of services it provides to both vendors and a cross-section of purchasers, from first-time buyers to families to downsizers and investors.

Simon’s appointment followed that of Julia Wilson. Julia joined from Penny & Sinclair where she worked as and focused on the North Oxford and city centre markets. With more than 10 years’ experience in the residential sector, Julia is growing Carter Jonas’ presence and building its business both centrally and in North Oxford, drawing on her knowledge, her extensive network and strong track record.

For further information, please contact;

Carolyn Puddicombe
Partner, Commercial
020 7298 1814
Carolyn.Puddicombe@carterjonas.co.uk

The Trifecta 3Peaks Challenge is a team charity challenge for business leaders in Oxfordshire. It’s a 24-hour climb involving three teams and the three largest peaks in the UK, raising money for three charities.

All business leaders participating have been challenged to raise £2,888 each for three worthy Oxfordshire charities. It’s an opportunity to demonstrate leadership on charitable giving and to contribute to the broader needs of Oxfordshire. The events goal is to raise a total of £60,000 for the charities to share, so they can continue their great works in the community. Different charities are selected each year. This year’s event is supporting Headway Oxfordshire, Oxford Hospitals Charity, and The Mulberry Bush.

This year, we are proud to announce that Huw Mellor, a partner within our planning team, will be taking part. Huw says ‘I am really pleased to represent Carter Jonas and be part of the Trifecta 3Peaks Challenge team. The three causes we’re raising money for are so worthwhile, collectively I know we can make a difference and I’m honoured to be a part of it – wish me luck!’.

If you would like to support Huw in reaching his fundraising target, please contact him on the details below:

Huw Mellor
Partner, Planning & Development
01865 255166
Huw.Mellor@carterjonas.co.uk

Show your support to Huw and these wonderful charities and donate here: https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/HuwMellor1

Following a competitive tender, CALA Homes acquired the 9.65 acre site and will be developing 174 homes at Phase 2a, Fuller’s Meadow, which is located south of the new community hub with the new primary school and neighbourhood centre.

The sale follows the negotiation by Carter Jonas, on behalf of the landowners, of a long-term development agreement with St Modwen for the delivery of infrastructure and services required for our clients to sell serviced land parcels over the coming years.

Carter Jonas had previously obtained outline planning permission for the 227 acre site in July 2015 from the Vale of White Horse District Council for up to 1,500 homes, a new primary school, a neighbourhood centre including a pub/restaurant and local retail accommodation, sports pitches, employment space and community amenities set around a central park.

Infrastructure for the services and access to the site is well underway and CALA Homes will submit a detailed reserved matters application shortly.

The sale marks the next residential phase of the new community; the first two phases, totalling some 150 homes, are being developed by St. Modwen’s award-winning housebuilding business St. Modwen Homes, which started on site this year. The first occupiers are expected to move in this month.

James Bainbridge, Head of Planning & Development at Carter Jonas, commented: “This is the second serviced residential parcel sold by the landowners at Kingsgrove and will significantly increase the rate of delivery of much needed new homes in Science Vale.  A further residential parcel is likely to be sold during the next six months as St. Modwen’s development of primary infrastructure progresses, and we are looking forward to marketing some of the community facilities, such as a care home site in due course.”

For further information please contact:

James Cordery
Associate, Planning & Development
01865 404478
James.Cordery@carterjonas.co.uk

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