Plans for Oxpens Oxford approved

The transformative Oxpens Masterplan, a landmark 1 million sq. ft. mixed-use development in the heart of Oxford for clients Oxwed a JV between Oxford City Council and Nuffield College, has officially received planning consent. The ambitious regeneration project on a long derelict piece of railway land close to the River Thames is an exciting collaboration between Gillespies as landscape architects and Hawkins\Brown as lead architects and masterplanner, working alongside a team of experts to reimagine this underutilised part of the city.

The Oxpens Masterplan represents a bold vision for Oxford’s West End, integrating sustainable design, vibrant public spaces, and a mix of uses to support the city’s thriving knowledge economy and open-up access to the riverside. At the heart of the plan is a new amphitheatre which will host formal and informal leisure and activities and provide a vital new public space for the city. Once complete, the development will deliver new homes, flexible office and innovation spaces, a lively public realm., with accessible riverside spaces, pedestrian routes, and green areas for the community to enjoy and improved connections between the city centre and the River Thames, promoting active travel.

The project focuses on creating an inclusive neighbourhood that celebrates the areas rich heritage of industry and community while looking to the future to create a climate resilient fine-grained network of streets and spaces.

Gillespies has led the landscape design, delivering a vibrant, flood resilient and ecologically rich public realm that integrates seamlessly with the surrounding city and riverside environment. The new development will be set alongside the distinctive riverside landscape and water meadows; expanding the green landscape and opening up activity along the River Thames. This approach prioritises accessibility, biodiversity, and a sense of place, ensuring that the development becomes a cherished part of Oxford’s identity.

Read more about the project on our website.