Emma Folkes

Independent UK law firm, Burges Salmon, has advised longstanding client, The Crown Estate, on the expansion of its science, innovation, and technology portfolio, with the acquisition of Harwell East, a 221-acre site adjacent to the Harwell Science and Innovation Campus in Oxfordshire.

Located at the heart of the UK’s research industry, the site is of global significance and sits within the Oxford-Cambridge (OxCam) Arc, a key economic growth area and international hub for science, innovation, and research.

This acquisition forms part of The Crown Estate’s commitment to invest up to £1.5bn in the science sector over the next 15 years, supporting its ambition to create world-class laboratory space for the benefit of the UK.

With a projected Gross Development Value of £4.5bn, Harwell East could deliver up to 4.5 million sq ft of office, laboratory, and advanced manufacturing space, alongside 400 homes, boosting national GDP by an estimated £2.5bn and creating 30,000 jobs across the UK.

Burges Salmon’s real estate team advised The Crown Estate, led by partner, Emma Folkes, and associate, Robert White.

Folkes said: “This is an exciting development for The Crown Estate, reaffirming its commitment to the science sector and its ambition to ensure hubs like Oxford continue to nurture world-class research and enterprise and support the economy.

“Harwell East represents a unique opportunity to strengthen the UK’s position as a global leader in science and innovation and we are proud to have supported our client in delivering this strategic acquisition.

“Our real estate expertise, combined with multi-disciplinary support from experts across the firm, was instrumental in securing a successful outcome.”