• Private sector investor client

• Collaborative relationship with local authority to define gateway policy

• Centre helped to secure planning permission for further local development 

During 2010, Oxford Innovation prepared a business plan demonstrating investment returns comparable with the conventional office market in Southampton and secured a contract to operate the building as an innovation centre on behalf of MDL Marinas.

In the meantime, we developed a collaborative relationship with Southampton City Council in order to re-negotiate a Section106 agreement, limiting the occupation of the building to research based companies.  We worked closely with them on defining a new gateway policy for the building, which was crucially aligned with the economic development agenda of Southampton City Council.   

As a result of working with the key stakeholders, Ocean Village Innovation Centre opened for business in November 2010 with an official opening event held in December 2010.  

In September 2011, occupancy levels are ahead of business plan with strong conferencing revenues and the next phase of innovation centre fit-out investment has been approved.