Oxford North, Oxford, for Oxford North Ventures, with Fletcher Priest Architects, Gustafson Porter + Bowman, Stantec, Wilkinson Eyre and Gort Scott

The masterplan for Oxford’s largest development project includes 87,300sqm employment space for c.4,000 jobs, 480 homes for c.1,500 people, a 180-bed hotel and 2,415sqm retail and community space. The 30ha, £700m innovation district is poised to contribute around £150m per year in gross value added (GVA) to the economy.

Who is on the project team? (designer, consultants, etc)

Fletcher Priest Architects (masterplan and architecture)

Gustafson Porter + Bowman (landscape)

Stantec (infrastructure and civils)

Savills (planning)

Wilkinson Eyre (architecture)

Gort Scott (architecture)

AKTII (structures)

Hoare Lea (services and sustainability)

Pollard Thomas Edwards (architecture - Canalside housing).

Describe the context of this project, its neighbourhood and people.

Oxford North is the largest development project under construction in Oxford. Being delivered is a new 24/7 mixed-use innovation district embedded in the city’s fabric that will enhance the entrance to this culturally diverse, vibrant and cosmopolitan city. The site has been in the ownership of St John’s College for over 400 years. This longevity, and the sense of custodianship for future generations, underpins the project’s proposals, on land which was previously publicly inaccessible, undeveloped grazing pasture.The site comprises three parcels, alongside a predominantly residential context. Canalside is adjacent to Wolvercote and Port Meadow to the west. Eastside is close to lakeside homes on nearby land that was used for clay extraction and brick production in the Victorian age. The main Central area is bounded by the A40 and A44 roads. 

Please describe your approach to this future place and its mix of uses. How will it function as a vibrant place? How does it knit into, and serve the needs of, the wider area?

The intersections between science-based and knowledge-economy activities, academic research and places to live are key catalysts for innovation and growth. Known as innovation districts, these places are a global phenomenon attracting world-class talent seeking to cluster in proximity to centres of research excellence. Oxford North will enable the city to continue to collaborate and compete on the world stage and the UK economy thrive. From the outset, these ambitions have underpinned the vision. Several strategies interlock laboratories with amenities, mobility, public art, landscaping, wayfinding, open spaces and play. Public realm at the site’s heart is a key opportunity to welcome a diverse range of visitors throughout the year. As a mixed and integrated urban environment, promoting sustainable travel choices is key, with significant investment into improving highways, foot and cycle paths and bus connectivity. Homes will provide physical and social links to neighbouring communities and longer-term linkages will connect to the recently created Oxford Parkway station. 

What is the environmental impact of the project? How will the carbon use and material impact of the development be mitigated? What is the sustainability strategy?

Oxford North is on a mission to minimise the environmental impact of business and its communities; and is dedicated to creating a model of innovative and sustainable growth based on good governance practices. Strategic sustainability considerations start at the masterplan scale, with dense mixed-use development supporting active travel and public transport connectivity. The project is delivering 2 kilometres of cycle lanes and 970 cycle spaces. The project is harnessing low-carbon innovation with net zero carbon buildings. By applying a long-life, loose-fit approach to commercial buildings, careful considered specifications will reduce over-specification/redundancy for the sake of theoretical but wasteful flexibility.