Construction and civil engineering contractor McLaughlin & Harvey has begun work on a 140,000 sq ft life-sciences development on Hythe Bridge Street in Oxford.
The client is a partnership between developer Reef Origin and UBS working through the Forge_Kn joint venture.
The project will transform the former Beaver House site and neighbouring properties into a specialist life-sciences facility called Bridge Labs, with the programme set to last three years.
Beaver House, at 23-38 Hythe Bridge Street, will be redeveloped, together with properties at 39-42 on the same road, to create flexible laboratory and office accommodation.
Public-realm improvements include a new cafe, a community garden and riverside connections. The project will also restore the historic Boatman’s Chapel and aims for a biodiversity net gain of more than 500%.
“Our team is now on site and working closely with Reef Origin, project partners and the local community to deliver a high-quality development that will support scientific innovation while creating lasting benefits for the city and its residents,” said McLaughlin & Harvey project director Colin McCullough.
McLaughlin & Harvey was appointed as main contractor through a negotiated pre-construction route.
Reef Origin construction director Chris Goulding said McLaughlin & Harvey demonstrated “a highly proactive and collaborative approach from the outset”.
“They rapidly mobilised a multidisciplinary team, bringing together programme, logistics, commercial and operational expertise to gain a thorough understanding of the project’s requirements and delivery challenges.”
