Castle Mill

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Castle Mill Oxford University graduate housing under construction, from the Walton Well Road railway bridge to the north in January 2013.
Similar view in April 2013.
View from the Castle Mill Stream at the southern end of Port Meadow, across the Cripley Meadow allotments.

Castle Mill is a graduate housing complex of the University of Oxford in Oxford, England.

Overview

Castle Mill is located north of Oxford railway station along Roger Dudman Way, just to the west of the railway tracks on what was formerly Cripley Meadow, south of Port Meadow.[4] The initial buildings at the southern end of the site were completed in 2004.[5] Accommodation is available for single people, couples, and families.[6] The proximity of the railway causes a noise issue.[7]

The Castle Mill Stream, a branch of the River Thames, runs to the east of the site beyond the railway tracks, hence the name.

Development and controversy

View from Port Meadow.
Close-up of 5-storey blocks from Port Meadow, showing the reduced-height apex in the roof line, undertaken to make the buildings more acceptable with respect to blocking the view.[1]
St Barnabas Church campanile obscured by new Oxford University Castle Mill graduate accommodation buildings, at the southern end of Port Meadow.[2][3]
Notice about the Castle Mill graduate housing on the bridge between Port Meadow and Fiddler's Island, December 2012.

Since 2012, the Oxford University Estates Directorate, with the help of Longcross, have been developing the one hectare Castle Mill site (400m × 25m), north of the existing accommodation, between the Cripley Meadow Allotments and the railway tracks, close to the southern end of Port Meadow, as further extensive student accommodation.[8][9] The architect for the new buildings is Frankham Consultancy Group,[10] with a contract value of £21.5 million.[11] The company's website claims that "The company exists to improve the surroundings in which we all live and work."[12] Oxford City Council granted planning permission on 15 February 2012.[13]

The development has been controversial, since the four to five storey blocks overlook Port Meadow, a historic open area to the north with views of Oxford's skyline.[14] Campaigners have warned of damage to views of Oxford.[15][16] There has been an online petition[17] and a "Save Port Meadow" campaign was established in December 2012.[18] Concern has been raised by the Oxford Preservation Trust[19] and the Green Party.[20] Anger has been caused even among members of Oxford University.[21] The development has been likened to building a "skyscraper beside Stonehenge".[22]

In February 2013, a local paper reported that Oxford City Council had entered negotiations with Oxford University to reduce the height of the buildings by two storeys.[23] There was a protest and picket of Congregation, Oxford University's formal assembly of senior members, at the Sheldonian Theatre in central Oxford.[24][25] The protesters including leading members of Oxford University, such as Diarmaid MacCulloch, Professor of the History of the Church. Oxford University donors, such as Michael Moritz, and the University's Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Andrew Hamilton, have also been targeted with letters by the protesters, warning that the buildings "blot out the unique view of Oxford's Dreaming Spires from Port Meadow".[24] Campaigners have claimed that the decision on the development was unlawful.[2] The author Philip Pullman has condemned the buildings,[26] which has featured in the national press.[27]

In particular, views of the Grade I listed Italianate St Barnabas Church in Jericho have been affected. An internal report of 24 January 2012 at Oxford City Council[28] stated "Photomontages show that from some parts of the meadow the view of the St Barnabas campanile will be obscured with the long unrelieved roof line cutting across in front of it." In fact, the view of the campanile is almost completely obscured (see photograph to the right).

In March 2013, it was revealed the Oxford City Council was warned about the threat to the views from Port Meadow.[3] The Head of Heritage at the Council reported on "the harmful impact" with a conclusion that "There is no justification for this harm".[28] The University submitted revised plans reducing the height of the blocks by 1.2m on 9 February 2012, yet the planning officer's report recommending approval of the revised scheme was dated 3 February 2012.[3] The height change is seen by some as having a negligible effect in practice.[1] The Vice-Chairman of the West Area Planning Committee said "I was told there had been no objections to the original scheme and as the revised scheme was designed to make it even less controversial there was no need to consult."[29]

In April 2013, it was reported that Oxford University had removed the topmost apex of the roof in its revised plans, rather than removing a storey.[30] Oxford University has stated that it will not reduce the height of the buildings voluntarily and have estimated the cost to do so as being £10–20 million.[31][32] On 17 April, masked protesters attended an Oxford City Council meeting, where it was decided that a high-level meeting between the University's Vice-Chancellor and the Council leader was needed.[33][34] Oxford City Council has warned Oxford University that compulsory measures could be taken to reduce the impact of Castle Mill.[35] Campaigners have set up a fund to oppose the development in the High Court. The Direct of the Oxford Preservation Trust has stated "I don't think we have the guidelines in place which allow for a development like the one near Port Meadow to be properly assessed."[36]

During May 2013, it emerged that pollution at Castle Mill had not been checked before work begin, as was required in the planning permission.[37] The CPRE stated that a request under the Freedom of Information Act reveal that the University did not provide the necessary information before work started in September 2012. When the University did eventually undertake the assessment, it was deemed adequate by the City Council officers, but a judgement of the matter by the Council itself was postponed. Later in May, it was noted by an Oxford University alumnus that he had been lobbied by the Provost of Worcester College, Professor Jonathan Bate, because the College was objecting to a modest planning proposal by Exeter College.[38]

In June 2013, Castle Mill was nominated for the 2013 Carbuncle Cup, an annual award by Building Design for "the ugliest building in the United Kingdom completed in the last 12 months."[39] It is described as "A deeply unimaginative and impoverished design which would lower the spirits whatever its setting, but on the edge of one of central England’s most important and ancient landscapes, it is an outrage."

In July 2013, an independent inquiry into the student blocks and how Oxford University was allowed to obscure historic views of Oxford was announced.[40] The level of consultation and the relationship between Oxford city planners and Oxford University have been questioned. There have been claims the city councillors were misled about the impact of the scheme.

See also

Organizations
Local places

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Fantato, Damian (25 March 2013). "Spot the difference — images of Castle Mill scheme show variation between unacceptable and acceptable heights". Oxford Mail. Retrieved 18 April 2013. 
  2. 2.0 2.1 Little, Reg (14 March 2013). "Meadow flats fight heading for court". The Oxford Times. pp. 1, 3. 
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 Little, Reg (21 March 2013). "Council 'was warned' about meadow threat". The Oxford Times. pp. 1, 5. 
  4. "Castle Mill (Oxford)". Wikimapia. Retrieved 28 February 2013. 
  5. "Castle Mill". UK: University of Oxford. Retrieved 28 February 2013. 
  6. "Castle Mill, University of Oxford". Oxford Architects. Retrieved 28 February 2013. 
  7. "Welcome to Castle Mill Oxford". Castle Mill People. UK: BlogSpot. 29 November 2009. Retrieved 28 February 2013. 
  8. "Longcross at the University of Oxford, Castle Mill Phase 2 ∙ Innovation in action". Longcross. Retrieved 23 October 2012. 
  9. "Longcross Secures Student Accommodation Project at Oxford University". Longcross. July 2012. Retrieved 23 October 2012. 
  10. Frankham Consultancy Group (7 November 2011). "Design and Access Statement for News Student Accommodation at Castle Mill, Oxford". PortMeadow.org. Retrieved 2 May 2013. 
  11. "Castle Mill — Student Accommodation". Frankham Consultancy Group. Retrieved 2 May 2013. 
  12. "Frankham Consultancy Group". Retrieved 2 May 2013. 
  13. "Decision details: Castle Mill, Roger Dudman Way, Oxford — 11/02881/FUL". UK: Oxford City Council. 17 February 2012. Retrieved 28 February 2013. 
  14. "City 'has to pay a price' to preserve Green Belt". The Oxford Times. 1 November 2012. pp. 1, 3. 
  15. Little, Reg (2 November 2012). "Save our famous views for hideous developments". The Oxford Times. Retrieved 4 November 2012. 
  16. Little, Reg (2 November 2012). "Save our famous views for hideous developments". Oxford Mail. Retrieved 4 November 2012. 
  17. Dhall, Sushila (2012). "Port Meadow, Oxford. Damaged views". www.thepetitionsite.com/850/008/830/port-meadow-oxford-damaged-views/ (Care2petitionsite). 
  18. "Save Port Meadow". WordPress. Retrieved 6 June 2013. 
  19. "The Oxford Views Study and Castle Mill, Roger Dudman Way". UK: Oxford Preservation Trust. Retrieved 18 April 2013. 
  20. Little, Reg (1 November 2012). "Planning: Controversy over student flats at Roger Rudman Way —The battle of Port Meadow". The Oxford Times. p. 10. 
  21. "Tall storey". The Oxford Times. 1 November 2012. p. 32. Retrieved 4 November 2012. 
  22. Little, Reg (7 February 2013). "Historian takes university to task over 'visual disaster' of Port Meadow flats". The Oxford Times. p. 3. 
  23. Hughes, Pete (14 February 2013). "U-turn over meadow flats". The Oxford Times. p. 3. 
  24. 24.0 24.1 Little, Reg (21 February 2013). "More meadow protests". The Oxford Times. p. 3. 
  25. Woolley, Alexander (21 February 2013). "Protests to save Port Meadow". Cherwell.org. Retrieved 1 March 2013. 
  26. Thomas, Rose (14 March 2013). "Philip Pullman campaigns for demolition of 'brutal' new Oxford University buildings". Cherwell.org. Retrieved 18 April 2013. 
  27. Rayner, Gordon (6 March 2013). "Philip Pullman condemns Port Meadow buildings". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 18 April 2013. 
  28. 28.0 28.1 Worlledge, Nick (24 January 2012). "Internal heritage advice, made on the 24th January 2012 on the scheme as originally submitted". Oxford City Council, via Oxford Mail. Retrieved 18 April 2013. 
  29. "Pressure mounting over flats: Two councillors on committee that passed scheme question the validity of Castle Mill decision". The Oxford Times. 28 March 2013. p. 4. 
  30. Fantato, Damian (4 April 2013). "University removed tip of Port Meadow flats to get approval: Removing roof section was only change to Castle Mill scheme". The Oxford Times. p. 14. 
  31. Fantato, Damian (11 April 2013). "Bill to lower student flats could be as high as £20m". The Oxford Times. p. 10. 
  32. Fantato, Damian (11 April 2013). "Is this the solution to student homes fight?". The Oxford Times. Retrieved 18 April 2013. 
  33. "Mask protest at Castle Mill flats meeting". The Oxford Times. 18 April 2013. p. 3. 
  34. Whittaker, Freddie (18 April 2013). "Castle Mill: 'Masked' opponents take protest into council chamber". The Oxford Times. 
  35. Little, Reg (25 April 2013). "Council could force student flats action: City considering 'compulsory remedial steps' over Castle Mill". The Oxford Time. p. 5. 
  36. Fantato, Damian (25 April 2013). "Protecting visual heritage". The Oxford Time. p. 10. 
  37. Little, Reg (23 May 2013). "University facing fight over failure to test site". The Oxford Times. pp. 1, 3. 
  38. Lawrence-Wilson, Richard (30 May 2013). "University needs to get its priorities sorted out". The Oxford Times. p. 31. 
  39. "Carbuncle Cup nomination — Castle Mill housing, Port Meadow, Oxford by Frankham Consultancy Group". UK: bdonline.co.uk. 11 June 2013. Retrieved 19 June 2013. 
  40. Little, Reg; Fantato, Damian (11 July 2013). "Student block inquiry: Campaigners welcome independent probe into Castle Mill development". The Oxford Times. pp. 1, 3. 

Further reading

External links

Panoramic view looking south from Port Meadow of new Oxford University Castle Mill graduate housing.

Coordinates: 51°45′37″N 1°16′23″W / 51.76035°N 1.273191°W / 51.76035; -1.273191

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