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Students' 'fortress' is planned

4:09pm Thursday 14th February 2008

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Oxford Brookes University has unveiled its plans for a major development in Marston Road to house up to 338 students.

The proposed accommodation will be built around a courtyard dominated by a water feature crossed with bridges.

The university said the four-storey development is a key element in a 10-year £150m programme to upgrade facilities and will help relieve pressure on the local housing market.

But it was immediately criticised as being a "fortress" by nearby residents, who fear it will dominate the surrounding area.

Gordon Snow, of the New Marston Residents' Association, said: "The plans show a four-storey fortress half as high again as neighbouring flats and twice the height of residential housing in the surrounding area."

The new building would stand in front of the existing Clive Booth and Morrell halls, close to the main Headington campus. The students would be housed in a range of two to six-bedroom flats.

The pond in the main quadrangle would be filled with recycled rainwater, with a "green roof" promised to reduce water discharge.

Deputy vice-chancellor Rex Knight said: "There are currently 3,400 Brookes students living in private housing. The development is primarily intended to meet the university's commitment to reduce the overall number in private rented housing.

"Students would be prohibited from bringing cars, so there would be minimal impact on surrounding roads. The development would also feature an internal courtyard to ensure all social activities take place within the halls and do not disturb neighbours."

Mr Snow said local residents remained unhappy about the university's continuing expansion on the former government buildings site in Marston Road.

He said: "Brookes are now talking of a one to two per cent expansion a year. Can Oxford bear a 25 per cent increase in the size of Brookes over the next dozen years?"

A consultation exhibition will be held at Oxford Brookes School of Health and Social Care, in Marston Road, tomorrow from 10am to 4pm and on Monday from 1pm to 7pm.

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Your Say YourOxford Mail

anon, ox says...
4:16pm Thu 14 Feb 08

but i thought mc`donalds drive through was the place to get a degree these days

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Don Carlos, Oxford says...
4:29pm Thu 14 Feb 08

Why don't they build affordable housing for local people on that site instead of constant student accomadation?

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K, oxford marston says...
4:34pm Thu 14 Feb 08

I would rather the students live on the Campus,and not next door to me!
They can make as much noise as they want in there own Halls.
They will have no garden to NOT look after!
Fantastic!

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RK7, The Last Stop On The Bus says...
4:46pm Thu 14 Feb 08

I acturlly work around students and acturlly find that they are more related to the common pig than to other huminoids. really every monday is he same battle against broken bottles and vomit and the poor people who have to clean up after these people are seriously underpaid

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Rupert Paisley-Smithington, Upper Burcot says...
5:07pm Thu 14 Feb 08

I'd rather have the students than the pond life that would dwell in 'affordable housing'.

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oxman, oxford says...
5:35pm Thu 14 Feb 08

Considering that this is being built not 100 metres from a mosque that is far out of character for the surrounding area AND one of the ugliest churches ever to have been built, I'm surprised that people are that bothered.

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sid, bicester says...
6:32pm Thu 14 Feb 08

oxman wrote:
Considering that this is being built not 100 metres from a mosque that is far out of character for the surrounding area AND one of the ugliest churches ever to have been built, I'm surprised that people are that bothered.
I wonder if they will have a call to prayer,it will save the students setting there alarm clocks

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RK7, The Last Stop On The Bus says...
7:57pm Thu 14 Feb 08

sid wrote:
oxman wrote: Considering that this is being built not 100 metres from a mosque that is far out of character for the surrounding area AND one of the ugliest churches ever to have been built, I'm surprised that people are that bothered.
I wonder if they will have a call to prayer,it will save the students setting there alarm clocks
If they have a call of prayer before 3PM the students will complain they need their sleep after the previous night

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The HonourableTarquin De-Montfort Jones Smyth, Brookes Campus says...
8:49pm Thu 14 Feb 08

RK7 wrote:
sid wrote:
oxman wrote: Considering that this is being built not 100 metres from a mosque that is far out of character for the surrounding area AND one of the ugliest churches ever to have been built, I'm surprised that people are that bothered.
I wonder if they will have a call to prayer,it will save the students setting there alarm clocks
If they have a call of prayer before 3PM the students will complain they need their sleep after the previous night
What codswallop. You obviously do not know a students timetable of life. 3PM is far too early to arise from the pit.

Your complete and utter lack of comprehension makes me sick. I attend at least one lecture a week for over twenty minutes. What more do you want me to do? The local clubs and pubs would go bust without us. Mater and pater keep the pocket money coming-I sometimes have to pretend to them that I am buying textbooks for study; but what is a little white lie or two!

So until you know students better keep out of our affairs. We are very busy quaffing and have been known to partake of substances as well as carnal knowledge.
Life is non stop for us student types.
So there!

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Chlamydia Thrice-Nitely, The Paddocks says...
11:48pm Thu 14 Feb 08

The HonourableTarquin De-Montfort Jones Smyth wrote:
RK7 wrote:
sid wrote:
oxman wrote: Considering that this is being built not 100 metres from a mosque that is far out of character for the surrounding area AND one of the ugliest churches ever to have been built, I'm surprised that people are that bothered.
I wonder if they will have a call to prayer,it will save the students setting there alarm clocks
If they have a call of prayer before 3PM the students will complain they need their sleep after the previous night
What codswallop. You obviously do not know a students timetable of life. 3PM is far too early to arise from the pit. Your complete and utter lack of comprehension makes me sick. I attend at least one lecture a week for over twenty minutes. What more do you want me to do? The local clubs and pubs would go bust without us. Mater and pater keep the pocket money coming-I sometimes have to pretend to them that I am buying textbooks for study; but what is a little white lie or two! So until you know students better keep out of our affairs. We are very busy quaffing and have been known to partake of substances as well as carnal knowledge. Life is non stop for us student types. So there!
That's it Tarquers give the chav what for!!
My daddy owns a racehorse and is very big in Tin so yah boo sucks!!

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