PLANS to raze Oxford University’s Old Road campus to the ground and rebuild it have been recommended for approval.

The university wants to demolish all the buildings on the Headington site and build 48,000sq m of research space over two to five storeys on five building plots. It also wants to create 459 car parking spaces, cycle parking and landscaping on the site.

Planners recommend the application is accepted in principle when the city’s east area planning committee meets on January 8. A report to the committee said: “The proposed development would represent an efficient use of land allocated for medical research.”

As part of a legal agreement due to be finalised between the council and the university, a contribution of £1,169,231 for infrastructure upgrade in the area is suggested.

The figure includes £250,000 for controlled parking zones, more than £500,000 for extra capacity at park-and-ride depots and money for bus, cycling and walking facilities.