Planning Application:
25/01872/FUL | Demolition of the existing single storey glass link and the single storey infills to the north and to the south-east. Change of use of the Faculty of Music building to create a Graduate Centre comprising of student accommodation and ancillary facilities. Erection of north wing two storey infill and two new wings to the south along Floyds Row, the retention of the music practice rooms and the Denis Arnold Hall, Installation of 112no. solar panels to the roofs. Provision of comprehensive landscaping scheme, cycle parking, accessible parking, and other associated works | University Of Oxford St Aldate's Oxford Oxfordshire OX1 1DB
Our Response:
August 2025
We support this planning application and are pleased to see the retention of historic fabric in this scheme. The proposed adaptive reuse of the 1936 and 1976 buildings to accommodate a graduate centre is preferable to the demolition of these buildings and their rebuilding. This is not only due to the historic and cultural significance of the buildings, but also due to the embodied carbon cost of demolition and further construction.
]The proposed infill development is carefully designed to not detract from the significance of the existing buildings. We do, however, have some concerns over the demolition of the single storey 1970’s infill development. Whilst these buildings may be of a lower construction quality, we recommend that an assessment of their useful lifespan is carried out as well as a Whole Life Carbon Assessment to justify their demolition.