- DFI launched the £500 million Techbox platform for UK industrial tech real estate, seeded by the £90 million off-market purchase of Catalyst Bicester in Oxfordshire.
- Catalyst provides 181,000 sq ft across eight fully let units, with 110,000 sq ft more under construction for mid-2026 delivery.
- Occupiers include McLaren, Tesla, YASA and Evolito, and the estate is positioned around high-spec, ESG-led features such as BREEAM/EPC A, EV charging and solar.
- DFI plans to scale Techbox via further acquisitions and developments in UK innovation clusters (and potentially Europe) amid constrained supply for R&D and light industrial space.
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On October 14, 2025, DFI unveiled its Techbox platform, targeting a £500 million gross asset value, anchored by its seed acquisition: Catalyst Bicester, Oxfordshire, purchased for £90 million in an off-market deal. Catalyst Bicester provides 181,000 sq ft of high specification industrial technology space from Phases 1 & 2, fully let to multinational innovation and advanced manufacturing firms, with Phase 3 under construction adding another 110,000 sq ft across five units, due by mid-2026.
The deal reveals occupier trends: demand for flexible light industrial and R&D space from firms at the intersection of advanced engineering, electric vehicle production, aerospace applications, etc. Catalysts like McLaren, Tesla, Evolito, and YASA indicate that quality, location (proximity to M40, Oxford), technical infrastructure (power, ESG credentials), and flexibility are significant differentiators.
Strategically, DFI is tapping into a supply shortage for technology-led industrial real estate in the UK, especially in innovation clusters. The ESG features of Catalyst Bicester reflect investor and occupier preferences, likely enhancing resilience, letting velocity, and long-term value. The use of off-market deal sourcing and partnering with a developer (Albion Land) supports lower entry costs and control over design.
Open questions remain: whether DFI can deploy capital efficiently across similarly scarce opportunities; how markets in Europe will compare in terms of yield versus UK; risks from rising construction costs, energy infrastructure requirements, regulatory risk; and exit strategy timing given development cycles. Also, tenant diversification, operating costs (especially energy/power provision), and planning permissions for expansion (Phase 4, etc.) will be critical to delivering on value.
Supporting Notes
- DFI acquired Catalyst Bicester in Oxfordshire for £90 million as seed asset for its new Techbox platform targeting £500 million GAV.
- Phases 1 & 2 deliver 181,000 sq ft across eight units; Phase 3 under construction adds 110,000 sq ft in five units, with delivery mid-2026.
- Catalyst is fully let to McLaren, Evolito, YASA and Tesla.
- Asset features high sustainability standards: BREEAM Very Good/Excellent, EPC A, EV charging, solar PV installations, landscaped grounds.
- DFI has appointed CBRE and Colliers as leasing advisors and Albion Land as developer partner for Phase 3.
- Phase 4 planning approval for Catalyst has been granted in January 2024, adding c. 128,000 sq ft and estimating over £55 million investment and potentially 500 jobs.
- DFI is targeting innovation hubs / research-adjacent locations; evaluating pipeline across UK and Europe.