Redevelopment of city brownfield site approved

Plans for more than 200 apartments, student accommodation and a hotel on a city brownfield site have been approved.

OXWED, a joint venture between Oxford City Council and Nuffield College, wants to regenerate the site between Oxpens Road and the River Thames.

The plans include 234 apartments, of which half will be affordable, 258 student rooms, a 250-bed hotel, 500,000 sq ft (4,6452 sq m) of offices and labs, and new public open spaces.

The planning application was approved by Oxford City Council on Tuesday evening "subject to conditions listed in the reports".

Oxpens is the largest brownfield site in Oxford allocated for mixed use development under the council's local plan, according to the planning application.

OXWED said it wanted to create "an exciting mixed-use riverside neighbourhood", calling the site - next to Oxford Ice Rink - a "once in a lifetime opportunity".

The site is largely unused and much of it is derelict.

OXWED said, as well as homes, the site would also feature restaurants, cafes and shops.

The plans would be a "catalyst" for further development nearby.

Responding to the decision by Oxford City Council's (OCC's) planning committee, Kevin Minns, managing director of OxWED, said: "We are absolutely thrilled that the planning committee voted in favour of the planning application.

""Oxpens is arguably the most important regeneration opportunity in the city today and it has taken a lot of hard work by a large number of very talented people to get this point."

He added: "This area of Oxford, with its rich history of community and industry, is now set for major regeneration bringing with it new homes, new jobs, new commercial space, fantastic public space and a whole new riverside neighbourhood for everyone in Oxford to enjoy."

The redevelopment is part of the wider plans for the west end of Oxford.

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