Albion Land, the privately-owned commercial property developer and asset manager, has been given the green light to deliver an additional five logistics and industrial buildings of circa 152,000 sq ft (14,121 sq m) at Axis J9 in Bicester, Oxfordshire.
Axis J9 is the new distribution and manufacturing park which commenced construction in 2019 and has been delivered in two phases across 13 units which total over 500,000 sq ft and are let to companies including The Menu, Origin Global and Arrival.
The next phase of the project will comprise five buildings ranging from 19,000 sq ft to 51,000 sq ft and will house up to 700 jobs. The buildings will suit logistics and manufacturing occupiers which require high quality buildings with large service yards.
The buildings will target BREEAM Excellent certification and include energy efficiency measures such as solar photovoltaic roof panels for renewable energy, air source heat pumps and EV charging points.
Construction work is due to start in summer 2023 with unit handovers due in May 2024.
Located west of Howes Lane and north of Middleton Stoney Road just three miles from junction 9, M40, the Axis J9 site was originally identified for development by Cherwell District Council as part of the Local Plan (2011–2031).
By mid-2024, Axis J9 will total around 650,000 sq ft across 18 buildings to provide high quality employment units for both expanding local businesses, regional and national large organisations looking to expand or relocate to Bicester.
Simon Parsons, director, Albion Land said: “The green light to build the next five units is welcome news as Axis J9 is already proving to be a major contributor to Bicester’s economy having created many high quality jobs thanks to the companies which have moved into the earlier phases.
“Being so close to junction 9, M40 via fast flowing main roads along with Bicester’s expansion and population growth has proved to be a major attraction to occupiers.
“We have been talking to major businesses both locally and nationally which have expressed firm interest in being at Axis J9 to expand their businesses – they just need the right buildings to be delivered without delay to enable their growth. We can now get going and deliver these much-needed new units by May 2024.”
Albion Land has invested in numerous projects in Bicester to provide high quality commercial buildings and help create jobs. Albion Land’s other current project is Catalyst Bicester, a new technology and advanced manufacturing park, which is to deliver 300,000 sq ft of workspace alongside the recently opened David Lloyd Health & Fitness Club and Holiday Inn. The project is underway with the first phase fully let to revolutionary electric motor companies Evolito and Yasa. Construction has just started on phase 2 and buildings will be delivered in late 2023.
Axis J9’s lettings agents are CBRE, Colliers and White Commercial.
