University of Oxford

Oxford University Development (OUD) delivers exemplary, sustainable development for Oxford University to maintain and enhance its worldclass research and education and to support the wider Oxford economy and society. OUD have formed a long-term joint venture fund with Legal & General to combine their expertise in funding and regeneration; commissioning us to provide expert advice for creating a mixed-use commercial occupier Vision and corresponding delivery strategy for the redevelopment of an important University building within the historic city centre. The brief required the production of a report capable of presenting to a wide range of stakeholders within the University organisation, exemplifying the origination of ‘Principles of Place’, defining their measurables in placemaking success, and putting forward 6 examples of use-types and most importantly, examples of occupiers within those use-types that had a live requirement, and could therefore validate the strategic advice by agreeing in principle that they supported the Vision.

The starting point to originate the Principles of Place, was historical research into the University Faculty that was to occupy the new building, this revealed a fascinating history that focussed us on the idea of the ‘Common Room’ and its democratic role as a central meeting point and support space for the community. Further research into the historical makeup of the local neighbourhood helped with creativity and narrative, which layered-in with demographic research, insights and gap-analysis, helped us dial in the ‘use types’ that would create a beneficial ground floor environment for the occupiers and visitors to the building. Once the use types had been agreed, we could then leverage our market knowledge and network of contacts to engage potential occupiers and operators to gauge their reactions, and feedback into the feasibility of the project.

Collaborating with Studio ND graphic design agency, we created a ‘Vision’ report, that presented the context of the existing building and its future roles and responsibilities going forwards, the complex history of the local area and the Faculty that occupies the building, the Principles of Place resonated with the values of the University, so we defined how to convert this narrative into measurable KPI’s, importantly how these Principles of Place could guide the OUD on selecting use-types and a selection criteria for the optimum occupiers and operators within those sectors, we collaborated with the potential occupiers to understand how they would operate within the spaces, and fed this intel back to the lead architect with advice on spatial planning scenarios and commercial advice on the impact on rental values, scenario testing and strategic commercial benefits to the delivery team.

Advisory, Vision, Strategy & Programme, Research, Insights, Gap-Analysis, Commercial Property Market Research, Rental Valuation, Spatial Planning, Technical Specification Requirements, Scenario Testing, Occupier Strategy, Engagement and Agency.