Global life sciences real estate developer Breakthrough Properties has broken ground on a new life sciences building in Oxford, England, UK.

Breakthrough is a joint venture formed between developer Tishman Speyer and biotechnology investment company Bellco Capital.

Named Trinity by Breakthrough, the project will feature 210,000ft² of specialised labs, offices, and associated facilities. It is located at the gateway of the 88-acre Oxford Business Park.

Breakthrough purchased the land and is funding the development via its Breakthrough Life Science Fund and a construction loan worth £137m, provided by a European lender.

Breakthrough Properties acquisitions and development vice-president Tom Renn said: “There are over 30 companies needing R&D [research and development] space, and the pipeline for new development is already pointing to a shortfall of available and appropriate sites.

"We are incredibly inspired by Oxford, an ecosystem that is rich with history and that has contributed to many of the world's most impactful discoveries - from the development and production of penicillin in the early 1940s, to its incredible contribution to the world's fight against Covid-19, to more recent approvals such as the first TCR approval for melanoma by Immunocore in 2022, among others.

“It is these scientific breakthroughs and companies that we hope to support with the provision of premier R&D infrastructure we're developing at Trinity."

Trinity by Breakthrough will feature a glass design, pocket spaces and terraces, as well as a jettied ground floor and other features.

Oxford City Council approved Breakthrough’s plans for the Trinity site earlier this year.

Construction work began last month after securing a ‘notice of grant of planning approval’. The project is set for completion in late 2025.