The Masterplan

A draft Masterplan was drawn up in 2005 in conjunction with Rafael Viñoly Architects. Focusing on views of the 18th-century Radcliffe Observatory, a Grade 1 listed building at Green Templeton College, the plan offers an integrated vision which is both dramatic in conception and architecturally in keeping with the cityscape.

The Masterplan is a formal planning tool designed to make best use of the land. It sets out a broad picture for the entire site, establishing an overall structure so development does not occur in a piecemeal fashion and all parts of the finished site relate to one another in a coherent manner.

Following internal university-wide consultation, the draft Masterplan was approved by the University Council in May 2006. Formal discussions then continued with the City Council and other statutory consultees, such as English Heritage, following which additional changes were made, including the retention of the listed Outpatients’ building, which had originally been earmarked for demolition to make way for a striking piece of modern architecture as the gateway to the site.

The resulting revised Masterplan was approved by the University Council in February 2007 and submitted for public consultation between 5 March and 20 April 2007. More than 1,000 people attended various events as part of this six-week consultation process, which included public meetings and exhibitions.

As a result of this consultation process, a number of changes were made to the draft plan and a revised version was reviewed by the City Council in September 2008 and submitted to the University’s Council for endorsement in December 2008.