Thomas White Oxford to kick-start construction of Oxford North with £15m Phase 1
Thomas White Oxford (TWO), the development company wholly owned by St John’s College Oxford, will start infrastructure construction works later this month, to kick-start Oxford North, the new district for Oxford.
Oxford North has been nearly 10 years in the making, its early draft stages dating back to 2015. Oxford North will be a new global life sciences district for Oxford, with sustainability at its heart, providing 4,500 new jobs, 480 new housing for circa 1,500 people, of which 35%, the equivalent of 168, will be affordable homes, small shops, bars and restaurants, hotel, circa 23 acres of open spaces including three new parks, and significant investment into the walking, cycling, bus and highway networks. Oxford North will contribute circa £150 million per year added in GVA to the economy.
TWO has appointed Hill Group, a leading housebuilder active across the South East and London. as contractor to deliver the £15 million phase 1 enabling works contract.
Infrastructure construction works will begin on-site week commencing 23 August 2021, subject to the issue of the decision notice. by Oxford City Council.
The works will include earthworks, sustainable drainage ponds, landscaping and related initial infrastructure required for the new link road construction between the A40 and A44 for the first phase of development in Central.
The first phase of the development will create 140,000 sq ft (13,006 sq m) of laboratories and workspace in three buildings, along with the first phase of the new public park.
Thomas White Oxford director William Donger said: "We have the green light to start works which is a significant milestone for Oxford North. These enabling works lay the ground so that future development parcels will be able to come forward without further significant earthworks being required. To have Hill Group contracted for both the phase 1 infrastructure and new homes on Canalside is positive delivery news for the project.
"Oxford continues to see exceptional demand for R&D lab and office space from companies of many different sizes from across the globe looking for their front door to be in Oxford. We are delivering a world-leading sustainable place to provide much-needed new homes, to facilitate jobs and enable life-enhancing discoveries which will deliver connectivity and growth while transforming lives and the city."
William Donger, THOMAS WHITE OXFORD
Andy Hill, Chief Executive, Hill Group, said: "This is a significant project for Oxford and will serve to create a new community for the City while generating many employment opportunities."
Acting on behalf of Thomas White Oxford are Gardiner & Theobald, Fletcher Priest Architects, Stantec, Townshend Landscape Architects, Hoare Lea and Savills.
Thomas White Oxford is is leading the masterplan for Oxford North and is supported by a professional team of architects, landscape architects, environmental, transport and planning consultants.
About Oxford North
Thomas White Oxford is providing up to £100 million of substantial investment into power, utilities, and public space, in addition to the infrastructure improvements to the A40 and A44 alongside public funding support.
The development and wider public will benefit from £18.4 million of additional grant funding to help deliver local infrastructure improvements, including £10 million from Oxford City Council’s Homes England Housing Infrastructure (Marginal Viability Funding) (HIF) application. With the support of Oxford City Council, and Oxfordshire County Council as highways authority, and OxLEP, this collaboration has been recognised by £8.4 million-worth of investment that was secured by OxLEP from the government’s Local Growth Fund.
Pictured: Oxford North Central Park, the Red Hall and new labs and workspace
