We’re developing campuses for the future. Where possible we keep disruptive work to times that limit the impact on local residents, staff and students. With the size of some of the works we are doing this is not always possible. Keep up-to-date with current works on our campus sites on this webpage.
Works updates
Planning permission was granted for the redevelopment of Clive Booth Student Village (CBSV) in November 2021. Initial construction work began in March 2022 with the Elm, Damson and Fir buildings opening in 2024.
Further redevelopment will take place from autumn 2025 and the internal fit-out of Cherry building started in September with an expected hand-over by August 2026, to allow students to move into the new building for the 2026/27 academic year. Further work is also planned to improve landscaping on the site.
How can I find out more?
The University will ensure that disruption is kept to a minimum while work is taking place. Information on the progress with the projects, as set out below, will be kept updated on this webpage. If you have any questions, please contact the University’s Estates and Campus Services Projects Team via ecs-projects@brookes.ac.uk
- Work on the internal fit-out of for the Cherry building is progressing well and impact on our local community has been minimal since beginning in September 2025. The project is expected to be handed over to the University by August 2026 and therefore be completed for the 2026/27 academic year.
- The vast majority of contractor traffic accesses CBSV via a private road which is accessed by a gate on the Marston Road. This is significantly reducing use of John Garne Way for works traffic. Staff based on site are on hand to ensure safety and minimise traffic disruption as vehicles enter and leave the site.
- The car park area adjacent to the nursery at CBSV is now being used as a contractor compound by the construction firm Morgan Sindall. This area is therefore temporarily unavailable for permit holders - we currently expect it to become available again from July 2026. Additional temporary permit holder parking for up to four vehicles is provided at CBSV opposite the Fir building (in front of the Morrells building off John Garne Way) for the duration of the works. The drop-off area for the nursery will continue to be available for those who need to use it.
- Latest information on the works taking place will be added to this webpage as the project progresses.
- The University’s senior committees have approved in principle our plans for improvements to the landscaping at CBSV. At this stage we anticipate landscaping will commence towards the end of the Cherry fit-out project, which is likely to mean works starting in early summer 2026.
- This will take place in phases as part of continued development of the site and is expected to begin with the area in front of the new Cherry building and the arrival area where CBSV connects with the Headington Hill site’s Woodland Trail.
- The work will be complemented by soft-landscaping work with planting taking place to further improve biodiversity on the site.
- Again, we expect the impact of this work to be minimal for our local neighbours. As with the internal fit-out plan, a traffic management plan will be put in place to ensure safety and reduce impact on those accessing the site and in surrounding areas.
- Latest information on when this project will begin and progress will be added to this webpage in due course.
- Further work will take place as part of the creation of a Woodland Trail to improve access between our Headington Hill site and CBSV. The scheme will provide an improved pedestrian link and access for students, staff and members of the local community. This will provide both an improved stepped route, as well as a step free-alternative.
- The first phase of the project began in late September 2025 and is focused on a short existing pathway at the bottom of the Headington Hill site, which runs parallel to the University's gardeners’ compound. The work will remove the current steps to create a more accessible route. While this takes place the pathway is closed, with signage in place for a short diversion along Cuckoo Lane and near to the Richard Hamilton Building on the Headington Hill site.
- In order to rebuild a section of the stone wall as part of this first phase of the project, from Wednesday 22 October there will be a very minor diversion around our works in this area. Cuckoo Lane will remain passable throughout and will involve use of University land opposite the affected wall while this takes place.
- The expected conclusion of the project is now expected to be in March 2026.
- A second phase to this project, which we expect to complete within the next 18 months, will introduce a new stepped walkway through a woodland area at the Headington Hill site, allowing pedestrians to take in the biodiversity of the campus.
- Impact on the local community will be limited as it will take place on the University’s campus and won’t require any closure of Cuckoo Lane which runs between the Headington Hill site and Clive Booth Student Village.
- This webpage will be updated with further information as the project develops. If you have any questions or queries in relation to this work, please email the Estates and Campus Services Projects Team via ecs-projects@brookes.ac.uk
- A geo-exchange heating system project was successfully implemented on our Gipsy Lane site in 2022 to reduce carbon emissions.
- The University is continuing to investigate whether a similar scheme might be possible at the CBSV site.
- Should a decision be taken to progress with a geo-exchange project at CBSV, further information will be added to this webpage and shared with students, staff and local stakeholders.
- Work is taking place to replace an existing gas main located within the highway at John Garne Way.
- The main pipe is at the end of its life and only serves University buildings. As it only serves Oxford Brookes, the new gas main is being laid on University land to avoid disruption to John Garne Way during the works.
- The work is being undertaken by Southern Gas Networks (SGN), and whilst disruption will be limited, it will involve work in the highway across the end of John Garne Way and across Marston Road for a short period of time. Statutory notices for these works will be the responsibility of SGN.
- This work began on Monday 26 January 2026 and is due to be completed in February 2026. If you have any queries for the University with respect to the SGN works, please email ecs-projects@brookes.ac.uk
Work is now taking place on the piazza space and western access route near to the John Henry Brookes Building at Headington Campus and entails:
- replacement of the existing steel plates at the bottom of the piazza area which leads up to the John Henry Brookes Building, near to the Headington Road. These ground plates will be replaced with appropriate new surfacing and help to reduce slip hazards.
- replacement of the bollards on the piazza and the western access route to improve the campus’ safety and security measures while making authorised access easier.
- drainage and cabling improvements while the works are taking place.
Access to the piazza will be maintained throughout the project, which we expect to be completed in March 2026, with only sections of the space being unavailable as part of a phased approach to the work.
At certain times, there may be noise while paving materials are moved across the piazza but the University will put measures in place to ensure that any potential impact is kept to a minimum.
This webpage will be updated with further information as the project develops. If you have any questions or queries in relation to this work, please email the Estates and Campus Services Projects Team via ecs-projects@brookes.ac.uk
Work will take place over the coming months to replace the heating system in the Clerici Building at Headington Campus. The project, which is due to begin in May and expected to continue through to early September 2026, will replace all of the radiators and pipework in the building.
During this time, areas of the Clerici Building and Sir Kenneth Wheare Hall will be inaccessible and signage will be in place to advise on alternative routes and how to access impacted services.
To help reduce disruption the project will take place in phases, with each phase focused on one of the building’s three floors. During each phase the relevant floor, or section of the Ground Floor, will be closed while works are undertaken. The planned timeframes for the work are:
- Monday 4 May to Sunday 14 June 2026:
- Second Floor of Clerici closed while work takes place.
- Monday 15 June to Sunday 5 July 2026:
- Half of the Ground Floor of Clerici which includes Oxford Brookes Business School spaces closed (including the Clerici Cafe).
- Monday 6 July to Sunday 26 July 2026:
- Half of the Ground Floor of Clerici which includes the Sir Kenneth Wheare Hall closed.
- Monday 27 July to Friday 4 September 2026:
- First Floor of Clerici closed.
A floor plan diagram is available to view or download to demonstrate how the Ground Floor phase of the work will be carried out.
The Estates and Campus Services (ECS) Projects Team will continue to work closely with building users to ensure teaching, research and business activities are managed appropriately during the closures. This will help to ensure alternative measures and mitigations are in place throughout the project, including for graduations, open days and other key University activities.
Please note that there will be brief interruptions to hot water services over the Easter period to enable preparatory works. The Clerici Cafe will be temporarily unavailable during this time and details will be added to this webpage once known. Information on alternative food and drink outlets can be found on the Catering webpage.
If there are any significant changes to the project, including timeframes for when work is taking place, this webpage will be updated. Thank you for your patience and understanding while this important work takes place to improve reliability, efficiency and overall comfort within the building. If you have any specific questions or queries, please email the ECS Projects Team via ecs-projects@brookes.ac.uk
