Ridge secures planning permission to expand EIT research and development facility at the Oxford Science Park. - Ridge

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Ridge secures planning permission to expand EIT research and development facility at the Oxford Science Park.

25 August 2026
Architectural rendering of a modern research and development facility with large glass windows, surrounded by greenery and featuring people walking on steps in
Our planning team has secured a unanimous approval from Oxford City Council’s planning committee for a major new research and development facility on behalf of the Ellison Institute of Technology (EIT), subject to the completion of a Section 106 agreement. The site sits at the edge of the Oxford Science Park – one of the region’s most significant employment related developments.

A connected research and development campus

The application seeks to extend three existing buildings and connect them with two new link atriums, forming a single, large-scale R&D facility distinct from EIT’s (Ellison Institute of Technology) campus buildings which are currently under construction at Littlemore House and Littlemore Brook. The first atrium will serve as the main entrance, with meeting rooms, seminar space and a café across multiple levels. The second will house stepped terraces for shared workspace and a greenhouse. 

The scheme builds on a permission granted in 2023 and will provide dedicated transformative workplaces for the Generative Biology Institute and Plant Biology Institute.

East facade of a modern greenhouse facility with glass panels, surrounded by greenery and flowers, featuring people and vehicles in the foreground.

Our role

We provided planning consultancy, project management and cost management services to support the application. Guy Wakefield, Planning Partner at Ridge, presented the case alongside Matt Abney, Senior Director of Real Estate and Projects at the Ellison Institute of Technology Oxford, on 23 June. 

This expansion reflects the ambition behind the Ellison Institute's presence in Oxford. It's a scheme that combines world-class research space with genuine benefits for the local economy, and we're pleased to have supported the application through to this stage.”

A man in a dark suit and patterned tie smiles against a gray background. Guy Wakefield
Partner, Planning

The economic and research case 

Guy also set out the scheme’s economic case, with construction expected to support around 1,900 full-time equivalent roles, rising to over 3,500 once operational. He highlighted the significance of planned food production research, noting that global demand between now and 2050 is expected to exceed output from the last 5,000 years combined. 

This approval marks another milestone in our relationship with the Ellison Institute of Technology. 

Modern research and development facility with large glass windows, surrounded by greenery and a pond, located at the Oxford Science Park.
Interior view of a modern atrium featuring multiple levels, glass walls, greenery, and people engaged in discussions and work activities.

Let's talk

For more information, contact Guy Wakefield or Jolyon Price.