THE owners of Milton Park near Didcot have got planning permission for a new office and laboratory complex costing £25m.

Planning permission for the new buildings was approved by Vale of White Horse District Council through the Milton Park Local Development Order, which speeds up the planning process.

The business park owners will now be able to start work on three new buildings totalling 110,000 sq ft, which will be completed by late 2017.

James Dipple, CEO at MEPC, said: “MEPC is confident that the economic drivers for this region are strong, despite some uncertainty post-referendum, and this scheme will let very well, due to the acute shortage of the right type of floor space in Oxfordshire to cater for innovative businesses to grow.

“The project creates opportunity for new companies to join the Milton Park community, and reinforces our premier position as the destination of choice for science and technology businesses within the region.”

Located in the Science Vale UK Enterprise Zone, Milton Park is home to over 9,000 employees and 250 organisations.

Businesses taking space in the new scheme can apply for Enterprise Zone business rates discounts of up to £275,000.