This week we held a ground-breaking ceremony at Symmetry Park, Bicester to mark the official start of construction of a new 163,130 sq ft fulfillment facility.
The event, which was attended by local school students from Bicester Technology Studio and local dignitaries, saw contractor A&H Construction commence work at the Park. This latest building marks the third unit on site having successfully delivered Unit A1 to national furniture designer, manufacturer and supplier, Bentley Designs with their relocation to Bicester from Greenford, West London. Unit A2, which was built on a speculative basis, was completed in December 2017 and was subsequently sold to Medline Services, a pharmaceutical manufacturer and distributer.
Unit B, now under construction at Symmetry Park is due for completion in March 2019. db symmetry is already reporting strong interest from a number of local and regional businesses with further job creation through this latest phase of development. Once finished, the full development is expected to create in the region of 800-900 additional jobs across a wide range of roles such as technicians, designers and managers.
As part of our ongoing commitment to the area, the developer has signed a joint “Vision Statement” with the Bicester Technology Studio to help establish an educational and work experience partnership with the School. The Studio specialises in providing students aged 14-18 with opportunities for vocational training in engineering and business, with a focus on the logistics sector, alongside mainstream academic study.
We supported the Studio by undertaking a number of initiatives including providing student tours of the Park at key milestones of construction and offering them presentations to aid their studies. Post completion, we will encourage its suppliers and occupiers of the site to partner with the school and provide apprenticeship opportunities.”
Tom Leeming said: “Our decision to develop speculatively here at Bicester underlines the strength of demand we are seeing from occupiers who want to operate a successful business in this location.”
“With the success of Phase 1 bringing two new businesses to the town along with the associated new jobs, we look forward to welcoming others in the coming months. The Park presents a professional, well planned entrance to Bicester on the A41 showing the town to be open for business.
“We would like to extend our thanks to the Studio, Bicester Vision, the Council and the people of Bicester for their continued support in bringing this business park forward.”