UK Space Agency relocates to Oxfordshire's Harwell Campus

Harwell Campus' Quad Two building will be the agency's new home, taking around 10,500 sq ft of space.

The aim is for the agency to connect more closely to Europe's densest space cluster.

Harwell Campus is home to more than 250 organisations and 7000 employees working across health, space, energy and quantum sectors.

The Quad Two building at Harwell Campus (Image: Harwell Campus)

The past year saw 25 new organisations join the campus.

The move brings them into contact with public sector stakeholders like the European Space Agency, the Science and Technology Facilities Council's RAL Space, and the Satellite Applications Catapult.

Stuart Grant, chief executive of Harwell Campus said: "We’re delighted to welcome The UK Space Agency to the thriving space cluster of over 100 organisations at Harwell Campus.

"Their presence cements the campus’ position as a leading international space hub and will help leverage synergies, drive innovation, and foster partnerships with key industry players."

Andrew Griffith MP, minister for space at the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, said: "Harwell’s Space Cluster is already a hub of collaboration with more than 100 thriving research organisations and 1,400 jobs making it the ideal location for the UK Space Agency’s new headquarters.”

The UK space sector, already expanding faster than the rest of the UK economy, employs more than 45,000 people and is worth more than £17.5 billion per year.

Satellites from the sector support £360 billion per year of wider economic activity.

Dr Paul Bate, CEO of the UK Space Agency, said: "The UK space sector is growing rapidly and moving closer to the industry we serve will boost growth, improve relationships with regional organisations and support a strong, diverse and resilient sector.

“We have seen a significant rise of space organisations across the UK and it’s crucial that we nurture skills and expertise, both established and emerging, to ensure we continue this journey.”

The forthcoming expansion will add more than 440,000 sq ft of laboratory and research and development space for further collaboration and innovation.

Rob Beatson, partner at Bidwells, real estate advisors to the science and technology sector, said: "The UK Space Agency’s decision to establish its headquarters at Harwell further highlights the campus’ standing in the UK space industry.

"It's also another clear signal that our region is not just competing, but leading in the global space sector."

Harwell Campus hosts one of the largest space clusters in Europe and aids in the growth of space-related organisations through its scale-up and accelerator programme, the ESA-BIC UK.

The programme has supported more than 100 space-focused organisations, raising more than £133m and achieving an 87 per cent survival rate.