Plans have been submitted by Oxford University Development (OUD) to include new graduate accommodation and teaching and retail spaces at Wellington Square.
OUD, a joint venture partnership, submitted a planning application to Oxford City Council for a two-phase redevelopment scheme. If approved, the first phase would involve demolishing 25 Wellington Square, which borders part of Little Clarendon Street. In a press release, OUD said the building would be replaced with a four-storey academic and office facility, including teaching space, with plans also indicating a possible café on the Little Clarendon Street frontage.
25 Wellington Square currently consists of graduate accommodation on the upper floors, which have been closed due to maintenance issues.
The second phase of the project would entail the refurbishment of the Western Terrace of the Square, 32-42 Wellington Square. As part of this redevelopment, around 100 graduate rooms of varying sizes would be created. Although this phase would involve developing the buildings, the existing historic terrace facing the Square would be preserved.
In addition to the redevelopment of the buildings themselves, Wellington Square would also undergo renovation with “streetscape improvements”, including a widening of the pavement, “cycle parking, and an electricity substation”. Public seating, pedestrian, and cycle movement have been “carefully considered to ensure safety and comfort”, according to OUD, and the connection between Wellington Square and Little Clarendon Square has also been revised under the plans.
Clare Hebbes, Director of Development at OUD told Cherwell: “Our aim is to create a place that supports the wider community, contributes to the local economy, and provides world-class facilities for the university and its students.”
Previously this year, public consultations were held to gather opinions from residents, businesses, and the wider community. Sustainability was a key focus during the consultations, and “both phases of the proposals include a strong emphasis on sustainability”.
The new building’s design meets high environmental standards, including Passivhaus principles, and increases biodiversity through landscape changes. Oxford University Development told Cherwell that it would aim to use a sensitive construction approach, using a “Construction and Environmental Management Plan, dust control measures, and the Considerate Constructors Scheme”, amongst others.
Clare Hebbes said: “We are grateful to everyone who took the time to take part in the two stages of consultation. The feedback we received has informed our approach to the final proposals, including our thinking about the construction.”
Formed in 2019, Oxford University Development is a joint venture between the University and L&G, a UK financial service group and major global investor. Previously, OUD has completed several projects around Oxford, including delivering the Life and Mind Building and homes for graduate students at Court Palace Gardens. OUD expects to deliver approximately 150,000 m2 of University space and 3,000 new homes for University members and the wider community by 2035.
Plans for Wellington Square’s redevelopment are currently under consideration by the Council, and if approved, construction would likely begin in 2027.
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