A HUGE new redevelopment of student accommodation is planned for Oxford Brookes University– with the aim of reducing the pressure on privately-rented housing in the city

The student housing would be built at Oxford Brookes’ University’s Clive Booth Student Village, on John Garne Way in Headington.

The planning application, that was submitted last month, shows plans to knock down the 12 accommodation blocks currently at the site and replace them with 12 new ones.

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The ‘village’ is currently home to some 1,300 students, however, if the new plan went ahead it would result in housing at least 1,800 students living at the site.

The university’s planning application describes the redevelopment of the accommodation as ‘an exciting opportunity to create a unique ‘living and learning’ environment for Oxford Brookes University students within a verdant woodland setting close to the main campus and Headington Hill Park’.

One of the aims is to provide a net gain to biodiversity, enhance habitats, and maintain the tree canopy in the long term.

Yet locals in the area have raised their concerns, in consultation meetings before the application being submitted.

Concerns included the environmental impact of the redevelopment as well as the ‘need’ for the redevelopment.

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There were also fears that creating even more student accommodation in the city would lead to an even higher student population.

Mark Tugwell, interim deputy director of estates at Brookes, reassured people that the university was not increasing its overall number of students and would help reduce the number of students having to live in privately rented accommodation within the city.

After several public consultations, planners adjusted the plan before submitting its final application to Oxford City Council.

These changes included measures to address the impact of buildings on views and neighbouring areas, the replacement of trees and the protection of habitats.

As well as providing more space to house the students, the redevelopment will also involve creating a children’s nursery and communal facilities for socialising.

Alterations to car parking spaces and installation of cycle parking structures will also be included.

The university has said the new plans will help with its commitment to 'ensuring that students can continue to live in high-quality accommodation and to meet the local authority's threshold for the number of students living outside of university accommodation."

The university also said it has 'engaged extensively' with the local community in the last six months.

Over the coming months, the council will be holding a public consultation on the proposals.

You can add your comments about the application and view more information by visiting www.public.oxford.gov.uk/online-applications