L&G Capital and Oxford University’s £4bn joint venture has launched an international competition to find a team to design a £1bn innovation district.
Oxford University Development said it wanted to find a “creative, forward-thinking” masterplan team for the 190ha mixed-use project at Begbroke Science Park.
The winning design team will set the “bold ambition and design intent” for the project, which will transform the north Oxford area, and will also create a community of up to 2,000 homes, with new schools, a park and nature reserve.
OUD said its aspiration is to create a “boundary-pushing scheme that demonstrably achieves a step change in sustainable design, delivery and operation”.
OUD chief executive Anna Strongman said: “We are looking for a stellar team to design a masterplan that both responds to Oxford’s housing needs and propels the economic attraction of the new centre as a place to live, work and foster innovation and enterprise. We want to bring together the best minds in the industry to work with us, Cherwell District Council and our local communities to create a masterplan of global significance.”
The competition invites interest from international, UK-based and local teams, encouraging large, established practices to join forces with individuals or emerging practices. OUD said it was keen to hear new perspectives on how to develop the area to its full potential.
The competition is being managed by Colander Associates. The winning team will be expected to offer both gravitas and experience alongside fresh thinking and radical ideas.
The regeneration programme will be multi-phased. The first phase will bring forward new facilities for the university’s research and development, as well as providing incubation space for spin-out companies.
David Prout, pro-vice-chancellor for planning and resources at the university, added: “Oxford University is and will remain the freeholder of the majority of the land, and its strategic goal is to create an exemplary new community that the university and local residents can be proud of – a world-leading innovation district with sustainability at its heart.”
Laura Mason, chief executive at Legal & General Capital, said: “We are helping realise their potential by investing in much-needed science infrastructure, which can incubate the great talent and innovative spin-outs which come from these first-class institutions.
“In addition to Begbroke, Legal & General has brought forward projects in partnership with world-leading universities worth £2bn this year alone.”
The partial review for Cherwell District Council’s local plan has identified the site for a high-quality mixed-use development, comprising a range of research and development, residential, and associated social and physical infrastructure uses, including schools, local centres, amenity space and recreation or leisure uses. It will also need to be linked to the centre of Oxford by sustainable means.
More information on the competition can be found here. Stage 1 submissions close on Friday 3 December.
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Image courtesy of BECG
