Harwell’s landmark new laboratory development for life-changing science

CO:LABS is designed from the ground up to support starting and scaling science businesses

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Flawlessly flexible: from fully fitted labs with shared facilities for start-ups to grow on space for scaling companies

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Intentionally inclusive: Recruit, Retain and Raise Funds with best-in-class amenities including a café, library, pitch rooms, seminar seating and exhibition space

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Life-enhancing landscape: gardens, sports pitches and a street food collective immediately outside

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Alongside giants: at the heart of the UK’s leading science and innovation campus and with access to over £3bn of world-renowned Big Science facilities

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Highly sustainable: targeting BREEAM Excellent and EPC-A

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The LINK: a sustainably designed social hub connecting CO:LABS 1 and 2

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Available October 2026

CO:LABS 1

‏‏‎ ‏CO:LABS 1 is built around the needs of start-ups and Series A businesses. It is a 35,000 sq ft Net Internal Area, fitted out to CL2 specifications including:

Incubator Labs

35,000 sq ft of incubator lab fully fitted out and serviced laboratories with units between 1,100 sq ft and 4,500 sq ft inclusive of write-up spaces/office spaces

On-Site Lab Manager

Managed by a dedicated on-site lab manager for the smooth running of the labs so you can focus on your science

Bespoke

Customisable facilities / configuration ranging from freezer rooms to tissue culture functionality for secondary lab areas

Furnished Offices

Furnished office space complete with dedicated tea points for each occupant

‏CO:LABS 1 Layout

Unit SQFT SQM
Available Space (NIA) 1,485 138
Available Space (NIA) 1,507 140
Available Space (NIA) 3,315 308
Available Space (NIA) 1,281 119
Available Space (NIA) 1,442 134
Available Space (NIA) 1,324 123
Total 10,354 962

Level 00

Unit SQFT SQM
Available Space (NIA) 4,080 379
Available Space (NIA) 6,693 436
Available Space (NIA) 3.993 371
Total 12,766 1,186

Level 01

Unit SQFT SQM
Available Space (NIA) 4,080 379
Available Space (NIA) 4,553 423
Available Space (NIA) 4,026 374
Total 12,659 1,176

Level 02

‏CO:LABS 2

‎‏CO:LABS 2 is built around the needs of Series B onward organisations. It is a 40,000 sq ft Net Internal Area CL2 lab enabled space with a menu of fit out options.

Flexible Lab/Office Spaces

The building can host one to two members per floor in areas of between 6,000 and 17,000 sq ft. Each space designed for a 60/40 lab/office split

CL2 Lab Ready

CL2 Lab Enabled – MEP central plant and primary distribution

Distributed Gases & Utilities

Distributed gases to demarcation point (compressed air, CO2, nitrogen). Cat 5 water and drainage in place

Gas Storage & Services

‘Back of House’ gas storage, easy access liquid nitrogen tanks and waste services within building footprint

‏CO:LABS 2 Layout

Unit SQFT SQM
Available Space (NIA) 10,667 991
Total 10,667 991

Level 00

Unit SQFT SQM
Available Space (NIA) 6,340 589
Available Space (NIA) 6,469 601
Total 12,809 1,190

Level 00

Unit SQFT SQM
Available Space (NIA) 12,949 1,203

Level 02

Unit SQFT SQM
Available Space (NIA) 4,155 386

Level 03

The Link

The LINK building connects CO:LABS 1 and CO:LABS 2, and is CO:LABS’s innovative social and collaboration space. Welcome guests, host lectures, pitch for funding, strike up conversation, catch up over coffee, focus on a thorny challenge and win over talent in an inviting and inspiring space. The LINK features Cross Laminated Timber structure, natural ventilation and thoughtful design connecting the interior of the building to the natural environment.

Having a space that people can commune in who are in the same phase of development is always useful.

Aidan Crawley, CEO and co-founder of Amber Therapeutics

Powering your space with Oxfordshire’s most affordable, sustainable energy

CO:LABS connects to Harwell’s pioneering SmartGrid, the first of its kind on a UK science campus. Combining AI, solar power, and battery storage, it delivers low-cost, low-carbon electricity across the campus.

Cheaper, greener power

Access some of the most affordable electricity rates in Oxfordshire, powered by renewable solar energy.

Faster grid access

Connect to power quickly without the delays or costs of traditional grid upgrades.

Smart solar optimisation

On-site batteries store excess solar energy and release it when demand and grid prices peak.

AI-powered efficiency

Predicts and balances energy use across the campus to cut reliance on expensive grid power and reduce carbon emissions.

CO:LABS
Life at Harwell

Companies thrive when their people do. Harwell is designed to bring out the best in your teams, whether you’re a two-person start-up or a FTSE-listed multinational. Our campus combines beautiful countryside with city-level facilities, including on-site food and drink and numerous sports clubs, covering rugby to archery. The facilities are set to expand too, with cutting-edge conference spaces, a new hotel, and contemporary homes in our residential quarter all due to open soon.

Learn more about life at Harwell

Location

Harwell is located in beautiful countryside just south of Oxford, one of the fastest growing cities in the UK.

Oxford city centre is just over 20 minutes, drive away, Heathrow is 55 minutes by road, and nearby Didcot Parkway station connects you to London Paddington in just 42 minutes. The launch of Crossrail and the upgrade to the Didcot Parkway Line mean it will soon be possible to reach central London Underground stations in under one hour.

There is a shuttlebus service through the day to Didcot Parkway and Oxford.

Learn more

Innovation

At Harwell, your neighbours are some of the most innovative science and engineering organisations in the world. Our collaborative approach supports companies of all sizes, and companies here have access to a wide range of practical business support and funding, from grants and tax breaks to venture capital opportunities. What’s more, being at the centre of the Oxfordshire innovation ecosystem allows you to easily attract and recruit talented candidates from a wide range of fields.

Network & collaboration

Harwell is your gateway to a lively, 7,500-strong community – as well as a unique opportunity for holding talks with leading thinkers, scientists and senior politicians from across the globe. Make new connections at Connect Harwell, our central forum which links up over 200+ companies at inspiring events. And collaborate in our range of meeting room and conference spaces. The campus also organises free Special Interest Groups and Forums, C-Suite symposiums, and hosts university placements and apprenticeships for students in Science, Engineering, IT and Business.

Our clusters

One of Harwell’s greatest strengths is the way it brings people together. And basing yourself or your organisation here gives you easy access to the UK’s most unique professional clusters: Space, Quantum, Health Tech and Energy Tech. Each cluster gathers businesses, organisations and people from across the campus and the UK to share ideas, take risks and attract funding – and ultimately, solve the biggest problems facing our planet.

Learn more about Harwell’s clusters

A healthy place to work

Where wellbeing comes first

Wildflower areas. Fresh air. Leafy walkways and views out to the rolling Oxfordshire countryside. Located in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Harwell is as beautiful a place for your employees to work as it is inspiring – giving easy access to green space, nature, and various walking and bike trails. A real pleasure to stroll around, the campus also runs a Bicycle Loan Scheme for staff to hire manual and electric bikes.

Learn more

Want to know more?

Contact Monika or Paddy who will be more than happy to help.

With its community of innovators and strong links into the wider UK research and innovation network Harwell Campus, and its EnergyTec cluster, provides an ideal environment to assist cleantech businesses realise their commercial ambitions. As an academic who has travelled here many times to use central facilities, I particularly enjoyed the energy and help of the staff researchers here.

Professor Pam Thomas
CEO, Faraday Institution

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