|
Return
to Agenda
|
Division(s):
West Central Oxford, Isis
|
ITEM
CA12
CABINET
- 17 APRIL2007
FUTURE OF THE RADCLIFFE INFIRMARY SITE AND
SCIENCE AREA, OXFORD
Report
by Head of Sustainable Development
Introduction
1.
The University of
Oxford has published Masterplans for the recently vacated Radcliffe
Infirmary site and the Science Area for public consultation. A location
plan is attached at Annex 1 (download
as .doc file) and a copy of the consultation paper is available
in the Members’ Resource Centre. To help retain and develop its
standing as a world class university, the University wishes to provide
high calibre facilities for staff and students; this will involve
necessary expansion. These two sites are key to the University’s
aspirations. Each Masterplan creates a series of development zones,
the proposals for which can be implemented individually as the need
and funding opportunities allow but which are integrated and work
as a whole.
2.
The closing date
for consultation responses is 20 April 2007. The Masterplans will
then be submitted to Oxford City Council for endorsement. It is
intended that the Masterplans will become supplementary planning
guidance, providing a framework within future planning applications
would be determined.
The
Radcliffe Infirmary Site
3.
The Radcliffe Infirmary
is a 2.4ha site located to the north of the city centre between
Woodstock Road and Walton Street. The Masterplan proposes that the
site should provide expansion space for the University’s main activities
whilst taking account of its sensitive historic environment. (Recent
reports have estimated that the University will need to add a further
100,00sqm floor space to its estate over the next twenty years).
It is intended to retain the best buildings, fountain, gates and
boundary walls and demolish the remaining buildings. Redevelopment
would be to a high standard and provide for a new integrated library
to serve humanities departments located on the site and new research
and teaching accommodation. A new surgery would also be provided
for the relocation of Jericho Health Centre.
4.
The Masterplan also
proposes to create a public realm across the site by opening views
of the Radcliffe Infirmary, terminating in a sunken garden. Two
new routes running East-West across the site would enable access
for pedestrians and cyclists. Vehicle access would be from Woodstock
Road; car parking would be reduced from the previous level of about
350 spaces to 100 spaces and there would be cycle parking for 400
staff and 2,600 students.
The
Science Area
5.
The University’s
vision for the Science Area, including Keble Triangle, is its continued
use for scientific activities, both teaching and research. The Masterplan
aims to ensure that the area functions to its maximum efficiency
and can support the academic needs of users over the next 20 years.
A large number of buildings are no longer fit for purpose. It is
intended to retain and improve the functional suitability and efficiency
of the better buildings and redevelop others. The opportunity would
be taken to maximise sustainability by using renewable materials
and energy resources and reducing and recycling water use.
6.
It is also proposed
to improve the public realm by creating permeable routes for pedestrians
and cyclists over the area, create linkages with other academic
areas and provide a new east-west route from the Museum to the University
Parks. Pedestrian priority would be reinstated and car parking reduced
from about 320 spaces to 100 spaces.
Comments
7.
The University’s
proposals to invest in the RadcIiffe Infirmary site and the Science
Area are to be welcomed. They would both result in improvements
to the University buildings and also improve the public realm.
8.
The proposals to
create new, safe pedestrian and cycle links including new East-West
routes across the Radcliffe Infirmary, the provision of a path to
the Observatory and a new east-west link from the Museum to South
Parks would open up to the public two hitherto fairly impermeable
areas in central Oxford and improve the links between them. The
achievement of a new East-West route from Walton Street to the Woodstock
Road in particular has been an aspiration of both the City and County
Councils, included in the Oxford Local Plan. The proposed improvements
to the permeability and interconnectivity of both areas would make
them welcoming to the public and should be supported.
9.
The proposals include
a reduction in car parking provision in both areas; this would be
consistent with policies in the Oxford Local Plan. Combined with
measures to provide improved cycle and pedestrian access and increased
cycle parking facilities, the proposals would be likely to encourage
travel by sustainable modes, reduce local traffic and congestion
levels and help improve air quality.
10.
The University’s
aspirations to increase the sustainability of the Science Area by
maximising the efficiency of its buildings and the use of renewable
materials and energy sources should be supported. The University
should also be encouraged to incorporate best practice in energy
efficiency and resource conservation in the redevelopment of the
Radcliffe Infirmary site.
Financial
and Staff Implications
11.
Individual applications for development will require
careful assessment, particularly by the Council as highway authority;
the work would be covered by existing staff resources.
RECOMMENDATION
12.
The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to advise the University
of Oxford that:
(a)
it generally welcomes the University’s proposals to
invest in the Radcliffe Infirmary site and the Science Area;
(b)
in particular, it supports:
(i)
the proposals to increase the permeability and interconnectivity
of both areas which would increase public access; and,
(ii)
the proposed reduction in car parking spaces, improved
cycle and pedestrian access and provision of cycle parking facilities
which would encourage travel by sustainable modes of transport;
(c)
it supports proposals to increase the sustainability
of the Science area and encourages the University to also incorporate
best practice in energy use and resource conservation in its redevelopment
proposals for the Radcliffe Infirmary site.
CHRIS COUSINS
Head of Sustainable Development
Background
papers: Nil.
Contact
Officer: Linda Currie, Team Leader, District
Council Planning Consultations, Tel (01865) 81 0432
Huw Jones, Senior Engineer, Tel (01865) 81 5947
April 2007
Return
to TOP
April 2007
|