The city council’s decision to dispose of land at an Oxford college has been passed despite concerns over its environment and social impact.

The council-owned land, known as Ruskin Field on Foxwell Drive, lies outside Ruskin College in Headington.

The college want to dispose of the land for residential development to fund the redevelopment of its educational facilities.

Civic leaders at city council made the unanimous decision to dispose the land at the cabinet meeting on Wednesday, October 16.

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The land will be sold to the college on a freehold basis in the event that any planning applications go ahead on the site.

City councillor Roz Smith called in the item for scrutiny due to concerns over the lack of consultation with local residents, the loss of green space and risks with planning.

Councillors voted to support the cabinet’s decision, but not unanimously, at the extraordinary meeting of the scrutiny committee, which took place on Monday, November 18.

Ruskin College first approached Oxford City Council in 2023 to gain right of way over the council-owned land. 

It wants to develop 8.7 acres for residential use, and another 3.5 acres for educational use.

The council does not plan to hold a consultation on the decision, because the land is not held as open space therefore there is no legal obligation for the authority to do so.

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About the author  

Esme is a Local Democracy Reporter covering politics, planning and council meetings across the county. 

She joined the Oxford Mail in October 2024 after completing a Master's in Journalism at the University of Sheffield.

Esme achieved a BA in History at Cambridge University before going down the journalism path.

She can be found on X by searching @esme_kenney.