Planning permission has been granted for R131, a research building designed by Stride Treglown for the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) at Oxfordshire’s Harwell Science and Innovation Campus. The five-storey building at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (RAL) will provide approximately 13,000 sq m of research and support space, bringing together around 410 existing staff from across the estate.
STFC Harwell has contributed to scientific advances ranging from lithium-ion batteries to instruments for the James Webb Space Telescope. Today, the campus brings together government, universities and businesses working across fields including medical research, space technology and quantum computing. R131 forms part of STFC’s programme to renew the research estate at Harwell, replacing ageing accommodation with facilities that can adapt to changing scientific needs while reducing energy demand.
Designed as a shell and core building, R131 is conceived as a blank canvas for the next generation of research and innovation. The highly flexible new building has been designed to house engineering workshops, dry and wet laboratories, and specialist cleanrooms as well as supporting office space, with the structure and servicing strategy enabling adaptability. Research spaces can be fitted out for different teams and change as equipment and technical requirements evolve, extending the lifespan of the building.
Responding to the client’s sustainability brief, the design aims to achieve net zero operational carbon through insulation, airtight construction and low-carbon heating. Plans also include measures to deliver a 10% biodiversity net gain, manage water efficiently and limit light pollution. Lightwells will bring daylight into the centre of the building, including shared workspaces and meeting areas.
STFC’s standards for accessibility, inclusivity and neurodiversity have informed the layout and facilities throughout. Quiet rooms, clear routes through the building and a choice of shared spaces will help accommodate different access and sensory needs.
A shared internal “street” will connect the science spaces with meeting rooms, informal workspaces, a café and places to gather. Views into the adjacent research areas will help colleagues and visitors see more of the science taking place, supporting STFC’s educational and visitor programmes.
James Horner, Head of Technology & Innovation at Stride Treglown, said:
“Bringing people into one building creates an opportunity to rethink how they work together. At R131, the shared street gives researchers places to meet, exchange ideas and see more of the work happening around them.
“We have also designed for change. The building needs to support today’s research while giving STFC the flexibility to accommodate new equipment, different teams and scientific uses that may not yet be known.”
The building’s exterior features a mix of glazed terracotta cladding, a pre-cast plinth, and complementary metalwork, designed to avoid a monolithic appearance and create visual interest. A strategic cantilever adds to the building’s profile whilst increasing usable space inside. Large strip windows are incorporated to maximise natural light, putting exciting science work on display. This robust design ensures durability and contributes to the building’s efficient performance and integration within the campus environment.
The landscape design, also by Stride Treglown, will create outdoor spaces for staff and visitors to rest and socialise, with seating, new planting and a retained mature sycamore tree. Climate-resilient trees and shrubs, alongside flowering lawns, will provide seasonal interest and habitats for wildlife.
Works are anticipated to commence in 2027.
R131 supports Stride Treglown’s plans to grow its science and innovation work across the Oxford–Cambridge region. The practice’s wider sector experience includes Vectura’s Project ICE at the Bristol & Bath Science Park and the Centre for Integrative Semiconductor Materials (CISM) at Swansea University, combining specialist laboratories and cleanrooms with flexible spaces for research and collaboration.