Development at Enstone to see £210m investment and over 600 new jobs

The site, Enstone Business Park, is adjacent to the proposed Mullin Automotive Museum – agreed in spite of widespread opposition – and adjoining Soho Farmhouse.

Developers say the planning agreement is a major milestone in the transformation of the business park, following the granting of outline planning permission by West Oxfordshire District Council (WODC) for redevelopment and expansion.

Now unveiled as Enstone Estate, the 310-acre development is conceived as a country estate for innovators, with the ambition to become a ‘new destination for British innovation’.

Chris Reeve, client representative, Enstone Estate, said: “Securing planning permission is an important milestone for Enstone and for our long-term commitment to West Oxfordshire. Britain has an extraordinary depth of talent, ingenuity and creativity, from engineering and advanced manufacturing to technology, design and the creative industries.

"Our ambition is to create a country estate for innovators: a new destination for British innovation, welcoming ambitious businesses from around the world and giving them the space, infrastructure and connections to grow.

The permission has been granted to estate owner Leven Holdings Limited following completion of the Section 106 agreement and will provide for up to 692,174 sq ft (64,305 sq m) of flexible employment floorspace, alongside associated landscaping, drainage and infrastructure improvements.

The announcement also unveils the estate’s new name, Enstone Estate, and its defining vision as a country estate for innovators, bringing together British engineering, technology and creativity, welcoming ambitious entrepreneurs, investors and established businesses from the UK and around the world.

Set within 310 acres of Oxfordshire countryside, Enstone Estate has a distinctive setting. Building on the area’s strengths in motorsport, aviation and engineering, it will create opportunities across advanced manufacturing, future mobility, creative, film and digital industries, agri-tech, environmental technologies and research and development.

A press statement today (Monday) said the ambition is to establish an environment where complementary businesses can work alongside one another, encouraging collaboration, knowledge exchange and innovation, with flexibility to support businesses from their earliest stages through to established international operations.

The redevelopment will be delivered in phases, with a construction investment of £35 million in phase 1 to provide 132,934 sq ft (12,350 sq m) of new employment accommodation.

The first phase will offer flexible space from incubator studios and workshops through to R&D facilities, advanced manufacturing accommodation and bespoke global headquarters.

Designed by Spratley & Partners, the development will emphasise high-quality architecture, modern infrastructure, landscaping and environmental performance. Construction of phase 1 is currently targeted to begin in early 2027.

Enstone Estate’s vision extends beyond the provision of employment space. It is being developed for startups, scaleups, SMEs and international businesses, supported by infrastructure and an environment suited to different stages of growth.

The company says its advantages include an established engineering and manufacturing community, an operational airfield, proximity to Oxfordshire’s motorsport cluster and connections to the creative and entrepreneurial communities of the Cotswolds, including neighbouring Soho Farmhouse.

The convergence of engineering, advanced manufacturing, mobility, digital technology, design and the creative industries offers opportunities for collaboration, investment and exchange of ideas. The estate’s long-term private ownership will support a carefully considered environment for occupiers and the wider community’.

The completed development is forecast to contribute £124.6 million per annum in gross value added (GVA) to the economy. At full operation, the development is expected to support around 1,500 jobs on site, of which approximately 850 are expected to be held by West Oxfordshire residents.

Approximately 610 net additional full-time equivalent jobs are forecast for local residents beyond employment already supported by the business park.

The Community Employment Plan (CPE) has estimated around 475 construction job-years, equivalent to approximately 120 on-site jobs per year over a four-year programme.

The CPE includes commitments to local recruitment, apprenticeships, training, education partnerships and engagement with SMEs and local supply chains.

Targets include at least 20 per cent of construction workers from Oxfordshire and at least 10 per cent of construction contract value placed with Oxfordshire-based businesses.

Phasing is intended to allow existing occupiers to remain operational and relocate, where appropriate, into purpose-built accommodation.

Enstone Estate is planned as a fossil-fuel-free, all-electric development incorporating energy-efficient buildings, rooftop solar photovoltaics and low-carbon heating and cooling.

The strategy targets a 37 per cent site-wide reduction in regulated carbon emissions. Landscaping, green infrastructure and biodiversity enhancements include a target of more than 10 per cent Biodiversity Net Gain.

Mr Reeve said: “We believe there is a real opportunity to bring together businesses from different but increasingly connected industries, creating the conditions for new ideas, collaboration and growth.

"From incubator space to global headquarters, we want Enstone to be somewhere businesses can establish themselves, grow and remain for the long term. The scale of our investment reflects our confidence in Enstone and its potential.

"Just as importantly, we want the estate’s development to create meaningful opportunities for local people and businesses and to make a positive and lasting contribution to West Oxfordshire. This is the beginning of a new chapter and we look forward to bringing the vision for Enstone Estate to life.”

The company publicity promotes the area being home to Formula One teams, advanced engineering and manufacturing businesses, aerospace innovators and a thriving creative community spanning film, digital media, design and production.

To coincide with the planning milestone, the Enstone Estate brand identity, website and social media channels have launched, see www.enstone.estate.

Acting on behalf of Leven Holdings are Spratley & Partners, Clarity BC, Macgregor Smith, Edgars, Savills, PwC, Knights, Cundall, Inform Consulting Engineers, Simpsons TWS, Calibro, Aurochs Ecology, Currie & Brown, Spacecraft Consulting, Devcomms and NextBigThing.