Oxford Innovation District Design Competition News, Legal & General Capital Architecture Contest
Oxford Innovation District Design Competition, Begbroke Science Park
6 Apr 2022
Hawkins\Brown team wins competition for £1bn Begbroke Innovation District
Oxford Innovation District Competition Winner
12 January 2022
Oxford Innovation District Competition Shortlist, Begbroke Science Park, Begbroke Lane, Yarnton, Kidlington OX5 1PF
image courtesy of architects
Oxford Innovation District Competition Shortlist
8 November 2021
Location: Begbroke Science Park, Begbroke Lane, Yarnton, Kidlington OX5 1PF, UK
Architecture Competition launched for design team for £1bn Oxford Innovation District
image courtesy of competition organiser
Oxford Innovation District Competition News
Monday 8 November 2021 – Oxford University Development, a £4bn joint venture between the University of Oxford and Legal & General Capital, today announces the launch of an international design competition to find a creative, forward-thinking masterplan team for its world-leading £1billion, 190-hectare mixed-use Innovation District at Begbroke Science Park.
The winning design team will set the bold ambition and design intent for a project that will transform the area around the University’s Begbroke Science Park, to the north of Oxford. The project will also create a community of up to 2,000 quality homes, with new schools, public park and nature reserve.
OUD’s aspiration is to create a boundary-pushing scheme that demonstrably achieves a step-change in sustainable design, delivery, and operation. The new district will seek to attract the very best minds, while driving economic growth, improving transport connections, delivering benefits for local people, as well as enhancing the surrounding natural landscape. The site will provide an exemplary new setting for the University’s world-leading science and innovation, which will help address key global challenges facing humanity – from food security and biodiversity to climate change and the urgent need to move to a zero-carbon economy.
The competition invites interest from international, UK-based and local teams, encouraging large, established practices to join forces with individuals or emerging practices – to provide new perspectives on how to develop the area to its full potential. The competition is being managed by Colander Associates, who have created a hashtag, #OUDcompetition, for firms to find each other online. 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 of the scheme will bring forward new facilities for the University’s research and development, as well as providing space to incubate spin-out companies.
Anna Strongman, CEO, Oxford University Development, said:
“We’re 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.”
Dr David Prout, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Planning and Resources) at the University of Oxford, added:
“For nearly two decades, the University’s Science Park at Begbroke has been home to a wide range of research and development activities across our Mathematical, Physical and Life Sciences departments, playing a vital role in contributing to the wider local, regional, and national economy. 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, CEO of Legal & General Capital:
“Science, engineering and innovation have never been more important, and new schemes like Begbroke will help ensure UK universities continue to be world-leading. 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 ambition is anchored by Cherwell District Council’s Local Plan Partial Review, which has identified the site for a high-quality mixed-use development, comprising a range of research & development, residential, and associated social and physical infrastructure uses, such as schools, local centres, amenity space and recreation/leisure uses, as well as excellent connectivity to the City of Oxford by sustainable means.
Aspiring entrants should visit www.colander.co.uk/architectural-competitions for more information on the criteria, and are asked to submit Stage 1 submissions by Friday 3 December 2021.
Oxford University Development
In June 2019, a major new partnership was announced between the University of Oxford and Legal & General Group plc. This partnership will enable the University to move forward with its commitments to address the high cost of accommodation for staff and students and to develop innovation districts. Eight sites (of which Begbroke is one) have been identified for redevelopment by Oxford University and Legal & General have committed c.£4billion of funding. The partnership has created a joint venture company, Oxford University Development, to act as its development manager.
Begbroke Science Park
Site Background
In 2015, a strategic masterplan for Begbroke was developed which included the expansion of the Science Park from 4 to 18 hectares alongside new residential accommodation and associated infrastructure. This masterplan evolved into the Begbroke Design Concept, which was submitted by the University to Cherwell District Council’s Local Plan Review in October 2017.
The Local Plan was adopted by CDC in September 2020. The Plan identifies the site for development for the following uses:
- 1950 homes (66ha land)
- Secondary School (8.2ha including sports hall)
- Primary School (3.2ha land)
- Primary School (2.2ha land)
- Local Centre (A1 500sqm, ancillary business development B1a/A2; café/restaurant A3; community building)
- Facilities for formal sports and play areas
- Local Nature Reserve (29.2ha)
- Nature Conservation Area (12.2ha)
- Canalside Park (23.4ha)
- Land for Agricultural Use (12ha)
- Railway Halt (0.5ha)
- New public bridleways suitable for cyclists and wheelchair users
- New pedestrian/cycle/wheelchair bridge over the Oxford Canal
- Reservation of 14.7ha of land for the expansion of the Begbroke Science Park
- Limited number of new homes, to provide for students and those working for the University at the Science Park to support its expansion and reduce car journeys
- Stopping up of Sandy Lane level crossing and provision of an alternative pedestrian/ wheelchair access/cycle bridge
- At least 2 points of access onto the A44
- Retention or replacement of existing allotments
- Green infrastructure and wildlife corridors
- Proposals for the safe remediation and use of the former landfill site including as a wildlife “stepping stone”
University of Oxford
Oxford University has been placed number 1 in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings for the sixth year running, and at the heart of this success is our ground-breaking research and innovation.
Oxford is world-famous for research excellence and home to some of the most talented people from across the globe. Our work helps the lives of millions, solving real-world problems through a huge network of partnerships and collaborations. The breadth and interdisciplinary nature of our research sparks imaginative and inventive insights and solutions.
Through its research commercialisation arm, Oxford University Innovation, Oxford is the highest university patent filer in the UK and is ranked first in the UK for university spinouts, having created more than 200 new companies since 1988. Over a third of these companies have been created in the past three years.
Legal & General Capital
Legal & General Capital (LGC) is Legal & General Group’s alternative asset platform, creating assets for Legal & General Retirement and third-party clients in order to achieve improved risk-adjusted returns for our shareholders. Investing in the real economy and creating alternative assets that deliver a tangible societal impact, its purpose is to invest society’s capital for society’s benefit.
LGC’s investments include residential property; specialist commercial real estate; clean energy; alternative credit; and venture capital. L&G has invested over £30bn in levelling-up regional economies, including through major regeneration schemes across the UK. Legal & General recently made a commitment to enable all new homes across its portfolio to operate at net zero carbon emissions by 2030, including Legal & General Modular Homes, CALA Group, Legal & General Affordable Homes, Build to Rent and Later Living.
Oxford Innovation District Competition images / information received 081121
Address: Begbroke Ln, Yarnton, Kidlington OX5 1PF, United Kingdom
Phone: +44 1865 283700
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