Oxford University Development

Oxford University Development is proud to announce the opening of the Life and Mind Building, a landmark development creating a new home for the Departments of Biology and Experimental Psychology at the University of Oxford. Delivered with Legal & General and designed by NBBJ, the £200 million project is the first major scheme completed through the Oxford University Development partnership. Providing 268,000 sq. ft of world-class teaching and research space, the building brings together over 3,000 students, researchers and staff in an environment designed to encourage collaboration and discovery. Facilities include state-of-the-art laboratories, rooftop glasshouses, a public plaza, lecture theatres, seminar rooms and a café. Sustainability has been central to the design, with energy use predicted to be 40% lower than the Net Zero Carbon target for labs, supported by low-carbon technologies and 5,900 sq. ft of biodiverse green roofs. Thank you to our partners and project team for bringing this landmark building to life: Legal & General (Delivery Partner), NBBJ Design (Architect), Wates Group (Main Contractor), Arup (Project Manager), Arcadis (Cost Consultant), Ramboll(Civil & Structural Engineer), Hoare Lea (Building Services Engineer), Fira Landscape Ltd (Landscape Architect), and Savills (Planning Consultant).

OUD is proud that its first residential project, Court Place Gardens, won Large Residential Project of the Year at the OxProp Awards 2025. The development provides high quality, affordable accommodation for Oxford University graduate students and particularly students with families. Located within Iffley Conservation Area, the project replaced 1970s dwellings with poor access, low energy efficiency and asbestos. Through provision of shared rather than private gardens and reduced car parking, the development doubled the number of homes on the site whilst preserving mature landscape and heritage features. Delivered to a high standard on a modest budget, the project is a replicable model for build to rent and affordable housing. Thank you to the Court Place Gardens project team for helping OUD achieve this milestone: fjcstudio (Architect), Applied Landscape (Landscape Architect), Savills (Planning), Cast Consultancy (Project and Cost Management), Price & Myers (Infrastructure and Structural Engineer), QODA Consulting (MEP Engineer), Project ff&e Ltd (Furniture) and Feltham Construction (Main Contractor). #OxPropAwards25 #OPA25 #BTR #PBSA #AffordableHousing #UKHousing #SustainableCommunities #Oxford #RealEstate 

2025 is turning into a winning year with another sweep for OUD's projects this time at the Ox Prop Awards. The Life and Mind Building, a new academic building for University of Oxford delivered with Legal & General, has won Project of the Year. The Life and Mind Building will bring together the Departments of Biology and Experimental Psychology under one roof to advance scientific discovery and education. Court Place Gardens won Best Large Residential Development of the Year. The scheme consists of 71 new homes split into 57 two-bedroom houses, 8 two-bedroom maisonettes and 6 three-bedroom houses, perfectly balancing the requirement of affordable student rents with high aspirations for quality, sustainability and placemaking. Congratulations to the project teams and our JV partners University of Oxford and Legal & General. #OxProp2025 #Oxford #AwardWinning #ProjectoftheYear #BestLargeResi

We are proud to announce that Court Place Gardens, our first residential development, has been shortlisted for not one, but two awards at this year’s OxProp Awards 25. The Life and Mind Building, a new academic building for University of Oxford, has also been shortlisted in the Project of the Year category, making it a hattrick for the OUD team. The Life and Mind Building will bring together the Departments of Biology and Experimental Psychology under one roof to advance scientific discovery and education. Court Place Gardens consists of 71 new homes split into 57 two-bedroom houses, 8 two-bedroom maisonettes and 6 three-bedroom houses, perfectly balancing the requirement of affordable student rents with high aspirations for quality, sustainability and placemaking. It has been shortlisted this year for the Best Large Residential Development of the Year award and the Project of the Year award. The development was shaped by the feedback of the community and has been built to create a neighbourhood that’s open and socially inclusive, with enhanced access to green space and conservation areas. We can’t wait for the awards event – fingers crossed for some silverware on the night! #OxPropAwards25 #OPA25 #Newhomes #Oxford #LifeSciences #ProjectoftheYear #ResidentialDevelopmentoftheYear 

Thrilled at the turnout for our third Science Wonder Garden Party with partners University of Oxford, Begbroke Science Park. We had over 2,000 people attend to take part in activities and find out more about the innovation that takes place in the labs and businesses at Begbroke, across University of Oxford University and in communities close by! A HUGE thank you to all of the researchers, staff, scientists, engineers, innovators, creatives, families, residents and businesses who took part to make the day full of wonder. Lee Warriner, Natalie Doig, Abhirup Banerjee, Prof Antoniya Georgieva, Chrishen Gomez, Daniela Nasteska, Richard Walker, Dr. Bryan Ng, Colin Johnston, BINJIAN NIE, Helen Townley, Houman Alimoradi, Siân Stratton, Stuart Foreman, Dr. Emily L. Connally, Diego Grinberg, Ben Tuppen, Stephen Ringler, Elaine Walder, Sonali Venkateswaran and Rana Elrashidy.

A winning night for us and our JV partners, Legal & General and University of Oxford, as well as the entire Begbroke Innovation District team last night with the project scooping the Design Excellence Award at the Planning Magazine Awards. Well done and thank you to the lead architects Hawkins\Brown as well as landscape architect: OKRA landscape architects, Collaborating architect: RCKa, Collaborating designer: OOZE Architects & Urbanists, Place Vision: MurrayTwohig, Planning Consultant: Quod, Community Engagement: Kevin Murray Associates, Strategic Transport: KMC Transport Planning and transport, civils and utilities: Buro Happold. #PlanningAwards2025

Refurbishment of the Grade II listed Mansion House was a key part of developing Court Place Gardens. The building is prominently positioned on the site and acts as the focal point for the Central Court of new build homes. The Mansion House provides thirteen study-bedrooms for graduate students, two common rooms and associated shared facilities.   The refurbishment conserved stone masonry, timber sash windows and historic layouts while upgrading performance with insulation, vacuum insulated and secondary glazing, air source heat pumps and fire and acoustic measures. Upgrades were sensitively and discreetly incorporated to preserve the building’s historic fabric and character.   The result is a respectful and cost-effective transformation that safeguards the building’s heritage and provides high-quality accommodation at affordable rents. Thank you to the project team:  Feltham Construction (Main Contractor), fjcstudio (Architect), Cast Consultancy (Project and Cost Management), Price & Myers (Infrastructure and Structural Engineer), QODA Consulting (MEP Engineer), Project ff&e Ltd (Furniture) and Savills (Planning).   #heritage #AdaptiveReuse #refurbishment #UKHousing #SustainableCommunities #Oxford #realestate #OxfordPreservationTrust

We are pleased to be able to announce another practical completion, this time of The Life and Mind Building in Oxford. The new building has been transferred to the University for final fit-out and preparation in the coming months. Later this year, it will officially become home to two University of Oxford Departments, the Department of Biology and Experimental Psychology, helping leading scientists to address some of our major global challenges. Designed by NBBJ Design and delivered by contractor Wates Group, this project was managed by one of our JV owners Legal & General. The design promotes engagement between the departments to provide an inspiring space to support innovative thinking and multi-disciplinary communication. Hoare Lea, Ramboll, Fira, Savills #Oxford #LifeAndMindBuilding #LifeSciences #EducationBuildings #Research

Another successful award shortlisting for our Begbroke Science Buildings at the University of Oxford, Begbroke Science Park! The two new buildings were designed by globally renowned architects, NBBJ Design. The Academic Building, occupying 54,000 sq ft, is dedicated to the University of Oxford’s research, while the Commercial Building’s 81,000 sq ft of flexible laboratory space will be sub-let to complementary commercial tenants. The buildings were delivered on schedule and to budget by contractor, Mace. It is the first phase of the ambitious plans for the 170-hectare Begbroke Innovation District and are part of the University and Legal & General's joint venture. #CNPWLifeSciences #labpace #construction #LifeSciences #Awards #Oxford