Work is now scheduled to start in the first quarter of 2021 on the four-floor spec building, which has been designed by architect Hawkins Brown and MUP consultant Hoare Lea.

Quad Two is the third in a series of developments that will form a collegiate style quadrangle alongside Harwell’s busy Becquerel Avenue.

A contractor has yet to be named for the project which is a slightly larger sister building to Quad 1 built by Bedford contractor SDC.

Angus Horner, Harwell Campus director, said: “As demand for Grade A accommodation for an ambitious science and tech companies has continued to grow across the UK we are delighted to be able to meet this requirement in the form of Quad Two.

“With a total of 1.5 million sq ft to be developed by the mid-2020s, we look forward to welcoming many more people to Harwell in the coming years.”