Following Albion Land’s hugely successful 540,000 sq ft Link 9 industrial and warehouse development in Bicester, where all buildings were sold prior to completion of construction, Albion Land are set to begin development of a further 500,000 sq ft scheme which will be known as Axis J9.
Bicester is at the forefront of rapid population and economic growth; the self-build and sustainable residential scheme at Graven Hill is the largest of its kind in the UK, The Eco Town will create a pioneering place to live and work and the world-famous Bicester Village shopping centre continues to grow. Bicester’s expansion will see 10,000 new homes and 18,500 new jobs with its population set to almost double from 30,000 to 50,000 by 2030. The Government promoted Oxford to Cambridge Knowledge Arc will act as a further stimulus to growth in the region. The Oxford to Cambridge Expressway is planned and the re-opening of the Varsity rail line linking Reading, Oxford, Bicester, Bedford, Milton Keynes and Cambridge is well advanced.
Axis J9 will ultimately provide approximately 500,000 sq ft of the highest quality buildings for production, distribution, R&D and HQ operators close to junction 9 of the M40 motorway. Phase 1 of development will comprise 5 buildings of 22,000 sq ft to 65,000 sq ft and work is scheduled to commence in summer 2019 with completion in summer 2020. Units are available to lease on a pre-letting basis. Phase 2 will be developed on a ‘built to suit’ basis with buildings from 100,000 to 250,000 sq ft available for freehold purchase or to lease.
Simon Parson, Director of Albion Land, says “Bicester is a very exciting development location with occupiers and investors increasingly recognising the availability of a skilled and expanding workforce, great infrastructure and many first class amenities. Axis J9 is set to be a great success and we look forward to construction starting”
Chris White, Managing Director of White Commercial Surveyors says “We are seeing substantial interest in Bicester at the current time from a number of corporate occupiers who cannot find suitably sized or new industrial/warehousing accommodation to suit their requirements in Oxford or in the southern sector of the M40 towards London. This development’s location at Junction 9 of the M40 provides the answer for many companies wishing to expand in