Multi-million pound plans for new apartments, student rooms, a hotel and an amphitheatre in Oxford have been submitted to the city council.

Revised proposals for the Oxpens development will bring 234 new apartments (50 per cent of which will be affordable), 258 student rooms, approximately 500,000 sq ft of labs or office space and a 250-bed hotel.

In 2021, it was estimated the scheme, on land near the Student Castle flats in Osney Lane, has the potential to create 3,000 new jobs.

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OXWED, the joint venture between Nuffield College and Oxford City Council, has now submitted the planning applications for the regeneration of the Oxpens site.

In line with the recently adopted Supplementary Planning Document for Oxford’s West End, the proposals by OXWED will transform a neglected part of the city into a vibrant new neighbourhood. 

Oxford Mail:

The scheme will turn an under-used, 15-acre brownfield site into an extension of the city centre - a new residential, commercial and leisure quarter for Oxford, featuring new walking and cycling routes.

The proposals will expand the existing Oxpens Meadow, ‘opening up the riverside’ and adding a new public amphitheatre for use as an event space.

Kevin Minns, managing director at OXWED, said: “This is an incredible milestone both for the scheme and for the future of Oxford’s West End.

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"This area of Oxford, with its rich social history of industry and community, has been overlooked and under-appreciated for too long but now has the capacity to really deliver for the people of Oxford.

Oxford Mail:

"New homes, jobs, commercial space, a public square with shops and community amenities, amphitheatre and new green spaces all just moments from the train station in Oxfordshire’s most sustainable location.  We look forward to bringing our vision and ambition for this regeneration to life.”

The submission of the planning applications follows several stages of consultation with the public and with key local stakeholders that has helped to inform the final proposals.

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Most recently, the masterplan was updated to increase the number of homes and incorporate the revised position of the planned Oxpens River Bridge. 

The development is planned to be largely car free, instead offering extensive public transport and active travel links.

Oxford Mail:

OXWED has estimated the scheme will contribute up to £270m annually to Oxford’s economy, with a £24m yearly boost in spending to local businesses.

Alex Hollingsworth, cabinet member for planning and housing delivery, said: “The Oxpens site has long been identified as a huge opportunity to create a city centre quarter that’s inclusive, vibrant, sustainable and accessible for all. This masterplan provides a route for making that vision a reality.

"I want to thank everyone who has played a part in developing and giving feedback on the proposals, helping to hone and improve the plans.”

The planning submissions include an outline planning application with an illustrative masterplan, parameter plans and supporting design code, together with a detailed planning application for enabling works to prepare the site for development.

Subject to planning permissions, OXWED will then look to join forces with a development partner to bring the ambitious proposals to life, starting later in 2023. 

Now that the applications have been submitted and validated, Oxford City Council, as Local Planning Authority, has opened its own consultation on the proposals before reaching a decision. 

This consultation runs until February 15.

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This story was written by Andy Ffrench, he joined the team more than 20 years ago and now covers community news across Oxfordshire.

Get in touch with him by emailing: Andy.ffrench@newsquest.co.uk

Follow him on Twitter @OxMailAndyF