PROPOSALS set to change the face of Oxford’s city centre are bringing out a variety of opinions from businesses and councillors.
A consultation on the redevelopment of Osney Mead and the West End launched on June 29, and will last until August 10.
New homes and businesses are planned for the area, while other projects in the coming years include the creation of new tracks, and better east to west routes at Oxford Train Station.
The major change though is the University of Oxford’s redevelopment of the Osney Mead industrial estate, aiming to turn it into a new science quarter full of research labs, offices and homes.
That redevelopment will also see the creation of a new foot and cycle bridge between Oxpens and Grandpont.
READ AGAIN: Views sought on plans to change the face of city centre area
OxWED, a joint venture between Oxford City Council and Nuffield College, is aiming to redevelop Oxpens, at land between the train station and Oxford Ice Rink, to create new business units, plus 400 new homes.
Shops in west Oxford have reported the plans could see a boost to trade, but have been also been labelled controversial.
Steve Stuart, co-owner of the Warlands cycle store in Botley Road, said it’s imperative the Osney Mead industrial estate is run as a ‘thriving hotspot’ for engineering and the sciences.
“My concern would be the height of the buildings, that’s what I raised at the consultation a couple of years ago, so I’d want answers to that,” he said.
“The other side of things is industries and businesses being driven out.
“My feeling is that it’s an industrial estate and needs to be run as a thriving hotspot.
“If it’s to be an engineering and science hotspot, I’d be wholly for it.
“The accommodation will benefit us as a business, so I’d be very churlish to object to that.”
Paul Spring, part owner of Spring Greens Cafe, said the development bringing in new homes would be beneficial for his business.
“I think it’s really great and we’re looking forward to it as it will bring a lot of people in,” he said.
“Covid has changed how people work, with more working from home, which means less people coming in.
“These plans would see a lot of people in the area, which would be great for us.”
Susanna Pressel, a Labour city councillor for the Osney and St Thomas ward, said: “I know that some of the initial ideas for the West End and Osney Mead are quite controversial.
“Some people want to see nothing but affordable housing on these important sites.
“The city council’s new draft supplementary planning document recognises the urgent need for more homes, but makes a persuasive case for seeking a mixed-use development of these sites, rather than just housing.
“We need community spaces and room for culture, arts and leisure uses. We also need to make more of our lovely River Thames and its streams.
“The council is also keen to see the growth of a new ‘innovation district’, which they argue is better placed near the city centre, rather than in remote science parks.
“Some people are also very much against yet more student housing on these sites.
“The city council’s argument is that it frees up family homes elsewhere in the city. Let’s hope that is the case.
“Of course, the whole area includes a lot of different landowners, so the council has a limited ability to specify what is to be built, but this document seeks to provide a coherent vision so that the piecemeal developments fit together properly and give the community what it needs.
“There has been a lot of public consultation already on these two huge sites and there is more to come.”
Green councillor for same ward, Lois Muddiman, said keeping homes and offices together at Osney Mead would be crucial for protecting the environment.
She said: “It’s an exciting development. We’d like it to be that all the buildings are as sustainable as possible, using renewable energy and built to Passivhaus standards.
“From a Green point of view, it makes sense to have the houses and offices together – mixed sites make much more sense as you don’t have to commute or need a car. We already have a huge traffic problem in the city.”
An initial public consultation took place in March and April 2021, with that consultation seeking views on what could be included in a planning framework for the huge redevelopment.
That framework is known as a supplementary planning document (SPD).
Last month, the city council’s cabinet agreed to go for another round of public consultation on the resulting draft West End and Osney Mead SPD.
Alex Hollingsworth, the city council’s cabinet member for planning and housing delivery, said: “The aim of the SPD is to set out how the West End and its major new developments will become a thriving extension of the city centre over the next 25 years.”
To read and comment on the draft SPD for the development, visit: consultation.oxford.gov.uk/planning-services/west-end-osney-mead-spd/
Read more from this author
This story was written by Liam Rice, he joined the team in 2019 as a multimedia reporter.
Liam covers politics, travel and transport. He occasionally covers Oxford United.
Get in touch with him by emailing: Liam.rice@newsquest.co.uk
Follow him on Twitter @OxMailLiamRice
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