Works updates

Construction of new buildings on the Headington Hill site (March 2023 update)

Oxford Brookes received planning permission in June 2022 for two new buildings on the Headington Hill site. The new teaching and workshop buildings we are constructing will help to transform STEM and creative industries activity. The cutting-edge, sustainable spaces will allow our students, staff and researchers to flourish, boost local collaboration and meet the needs of business. We currently expect the buildings to open their doors for the 2024/25 academic year.

Further information on the development can be found on the project's dedicated webpage where you can view a CGI fly-through video of the new buildings.

Construction of two new buildings began in January 2023, following the completion of enabling work.

Upcoming changes on the site

Work on site in the last month to March 2023 has focused on the construction of drainage soakaways, the sprinkler tank to serve the development, and foundations for the new teaching building.
Work on the workshop building is due to commence during March - work to date has been focused on the diversion of a water main that crosses the site.
In early February 2023, a barrier system was introduced to help ensure traffic safety. The barriers will be lowered when construction vehicles are manoeuvring near to the Gatehouse at the entrance to the site.
There is now a temporary path in place to divert pedestrians away from the construction site entrance. This has been introduced to ensure pedestrians have a safe route when travelling across the site and signage alongside hoardings will help to support this. All pedestrians on the Headington Hill site are asked to use the new temporary paths for their safety during ongoing construction work.
The parking machines opposite the Gatehouse at the entrance to the site will shortly be relocated to a position adjacent to the new temporary pathway.
The rear access doors from Richard Hamilton Building became a designated fire escape route only from Monday 6 February. Signage has been put in place to indicate this change in access arrangements.

Parking update

The top cark on the Headington Hill site permanently closed during the enabling works stage in November 2022, as this is the location of the new workshop building.

To allow for ongoing construction work, additional impacts on Headington Hill parking spaces include:

the removal of seven bays to provide necessary project access to the lower car park near the Richard Hamilton Building (completed end of November 2022).
the removal of four bays immediately adjacent to the site entrance - this is to create space for construction vehicles to turn (completed the last week of January 2023).
the removal of one additional bay immediately opposite the main entrance of Richard Hamilton Building in March 2023. This is to provide a second access onto the site and provide additional turning space for construction vehicles as work progresses.
the temporary removal of four bays by the Drama Studio to allow for the relocation of the electric vehicle charger previously located by the Gatehouse at the entrance of the site. This work, which began in January, was during the week commencing 6 February 2023.

The University acknowledges parking at Headington Campus has become more challenging. Notwithstanding this, we ask those with non-electric vehicles (EV) to not park in the designated EV spaces. More generally please also ensure that you park within marked bays when parking on campus.

It is likely that further temporary losses of a small number of car parking spaces will be necessary throughout the construction phase. Where possible, this will be communicated via these Work Update pages.

Further information for staff on alternative, sustainable ways of travelling to the Headington Campus can be found on the University’s Travel webpages.

Further information on the works will be added to this webpage throughout the construction phase, including a monthly update from the construction firm in due course.

Redevelopment of Clive Booth Student Village (February 2023 update)

Oxford Brookes received planning permission in November 2021 for the redevelopment of Clive Booth Student Village.

The project will provide an increased number of high-quality rooms within the University’s estate. This will help to reduce the number of students living in private rented accommodation and support efforts to manage local housing demand.

The construction work will be undertaken on behalf of the University by Morgan Sindall, who are registered with the Considerate Constructors Scheme. Safety is of the utmost importance and both Oxford Brookes and Morgan Sindall will ensure that any disruption is kept to a minimum while work is undertaken.

Ongoing work

There has been a lot going on around site since Christmas with a lot of progress being made.
We have improved infrastructure around the site with temporary roadways laid within the site to enable easy access for vehicles.
We have recently erected a third tower crane with a fourth in place from the end of February 2023.
External drainage has just started within the hoarding with manholes and drainage pipework being installed. The connection to the main manholes in John Garne Way will be installed in the near future and we will be partially closing a lane of the road but access will still be open onto the campus grounds.
Further detail, including progress of the new accommodation blocks, can be found in the January/February 2023 newsletter link below.

A more detailed newsletter produced by Morgan Sindall, which includes the contractor's contact details, will be made available on this webpage via the links below:

Find out more about Clive Booth Student Village in person

CBSV-hoarding-with-information-on-the-redevelopment

From May 2022 Morgan Sindall, in collaboration with Oxford Brookes, began hosting drop-in information sessions on the first Monday of every month. Anyone is welcome to attend the sessions which allow for individuals or groups to hear about the latest developments and ask questions. They take place at the Morgan Sindall Site Office located within the previous Morrells Bar on the Clive Booth Student Village site. The next drop-in sessions will be taking place from 3.00pm to 5.00pm on:

Monday 20 March 2023
Monday 17 April 2023
Monday 15 May 2023

Information and images are also viewable on hoardings (pictured left) which can be found near the Cuckoo Lane entrance to Clive Booth Student Village site.

Creation of a Peace Garden on the Headington Campus (March 2023 update)

From March 2023, a new Peace Garden is to be created in the courtyard area (sometimes referred to as the Buckley Quad) between the Buckley, Clerici and Abercrombie buildings on the Headington Campus. The purpose of the project is to:

create a quiet, outdoor space for students, staff and visitors to use for reflection, including a simple path labyrinth for meditation
improve biodiversity on campus through the use of native plants and by creating habitats for insects
improve the experience of staff and students working in the adjacent buildings by creating a pleasant view of the courtyard.

As part of the development of the space, there is likely to be some noise disruption between 13 and 15 March (8.00am to 3.00pm) - thank you for your patience and understanding while this takes place.

Co-creation is an important element of the project with staff and students encouraged to volunteer for the planting phase. If you are interested in getting involved, please use the Google Form where you can register for the planting sessions taking place on:

29 March 2023 (1.00pm to 2.00pm)
18 April 2023 (midday to 1.00pm) as part of the University’s Earth Day activities

There will also be further volunteering opportunities to help with the creation of a pond in the Peace Garden in the future, with further information being provided in due course.

Buckley Quad area where a new peace garden will be created

Geo-Exchange System for the Gipsy Lane site

About the project

Oxford Brookes has introducing a Geo-Exchange Heating System to displace the use of fossil fuels. It is estimated that the introduction of the new system will help to reduce carbon emissions from the University’s Gipsy Lane site by approximately 20%.

The system consists of a heat pump installed within a pre-existing interior plant room, or energy centre. It also involves an innovative new approach to carbon reduction utilising boreholes and inter-connecting flowlines that are capped at the surface, with manhole covers.

The number of boreholes required is fourteen, with a depth of approximately 220m. The drilling diameter for each borehole is approximately 15-20cm. The boreholes are located on the University’s access road parallel with Gipsy Lane next to the Sir Kenneth Wheare Hall building. The manhole covers are a standard size, visible only at ground level, with access for maintenance and servicing.

Physical work began on Monday 20 December 2021, with external works completed in July 2022. The work was undertaken by Black Mountain Developments on behalf of the University.

Further information on the completion of the project can be found on the University's webpages.