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Works updates

We’re developing campuses for the future. Where possible we keep disruptive work to times that limit the impact on local residents, staff and students. With the size of some of the works we are doing this is not always possible. Keep up-to-date with current works and route changes on all our campuses.

Construction of new buildings on the Headington Hill site

Oxford Brookes received planning permission in June 2022 for two new buildings on the Headington Hill site. The new teaching and workshop buildings we are constructing will be cutting-edge, sustainable spaces will allow our students, staff and researchers to flourish, boost local collaboration, and meet the needs of business. 

Construction of two new buildings began in January 2023, following the completion of enabling work. 

The buildings will open their doors for Semester Two of the 2024/25 academic year.

Further information on the development can be found on the project's dedicated webpage where you can view a CGI fly-through video of the new buildings.


High-res design for the workshop building on the Headington Hill site

Building work updates from construction company Willmott Dixon (November 2024 update)

Ongoing work

The University's contracted construction company Willmott Dixon is providing a monthly update on the building work for the teaching and workshop buildings on the Headington Hill. The construction of the two buildings is taking place within the boundaries of the University’s Headington Hill site and the affected areas are hoarded off. 

Activity typically takes place between 7.30am and 5.30pm, Monday to Friday. It is sometimes also necessary for work to take place over weekends. Willmott Dixon, a founder member of the Considerate Constructors Scheme, and the University will continue to ensure that any disruption is kept to a minimum. 

Recent progress highlighted in the latest Willmott Dixon update includes:

  • lights now being operational in the upper floors of the teaching building with internal finihses progressing well.

  • the removal or all external scaffolding on the workshop building with most of the hard landscaping around the building completed.

Upcoming activities highlighted in the latest Willmott Dixon update include:

  • a move to final elements of commissioning for the teaching building, ready for final inspections before handover.
  • decorations and acoustic barriers to be fitted around commissioning with work on the new road in early December 2024.

Other updates to be aware of for those on site:

  • a barrier system has been introduced to help ensure traffic safety. The barriers will be lowered when construction vehicles are maneuvering near to the Gatehouse at the entrance to the site.
Further detail can be found in the latest newsletter links on this page.

Construction update newsletters

Headington Hill site parking update

The top car park on the Headington Hill site permanently closed during the enabling works stage in November 2022, as this is the location of the new workshop building. 

The University acknowledges parking at Headington Campus has become more challenging. Notwithstanding this, we ask those with non-electric vehicles (EV) to not park in the designated EV spaces. More generally please also ensure that you park within marked bays when parking on campus. 

It is likely that further temporary losses of a small number of car parking spaces will be necessary throughout the construction phase. Where possible, this will be communicated via these Work Update pages. Further information for staff on alternative, sustainable ways of travelling to the Headington Campus can be found on the University’s Travel webpages.

Redevelopment of Clive Booth Student Village (November 2024 update)

CGI image of the Clive Booth redevlopment

Oxford Brookes received planning permission in November 2021 for the redevelopment of Clive Booth Student Village. 

The project is providing an increased number of high-quality rooms within the University’s estate. This is helping to reduce the number of students living in private rented accommodation and support efforts to manage local housing demand.

Further information on the development can be found on the project's dedicated webpage.

The construction work during the first phase of the redevelopment was undertaken on behalf of the University by Morgan Sindall, who are registered with the Considerate Constructors Scheme. 

Safety is of the utmost importance and both Oxford Brookes and Morgan Sindall have ensured that any disruption is kept to a minimum while work is undertaken. 

Ongoing work

The Elm Building was the first new building opened as part of the redevelopment of Clive Booth Student Village and welcomed its first residents in January 2024. 

The new Fir and Damson buildings became home to Oxford Brookes students from the start of the 2024/25 academic year. A Nisa retail outlet, located in the Fir building, is due to be opened during the 2024/25 academic year.

The Cherry building will not be available to residents for the start of the new academic year. Information on further progress with Cherry building, and additional redevelopment of Clive Booth Student Village as whole, will be added to these webpages in due course.

The first phase of the redevelopment is now complete. Further detail on construction progress during that completed phase can be found in the latest newsletter links on this page.

Construction update newsletters

A more detailed newsletter produced by Morgan Sindall, which includes the contractor's contact details, will be made available on this webpage via the links below:

Headington Campus glass roof panels (September 2024 update)

Work is due to take place to replace cracked glass roof panels on the Abercrombie building and above the library area of the John Henry Brookes Building (JHBB). When this work takes place, it is likely that the use of cranes and the erection of internal scaffolding within JHBB will be required which would entail some short-term changes to access arrangements.

While this work takes place, there will be clear signposting and more detailed updates will be provided to raise awareness amongst building users and help ensure any alternative arrangements can be made, if required.

A date for when work to replace the glass roof panels for the JHBB and Abercrombie will be added to this page once known.

Ahead of the more extensive glass replacement in Abercrombie, the University is conducted work in August and September 2024 to ensure the affected panels are in a safe condition to allow a return to full access for the building. Following the completition of this work, the cordoned off area of Abercrombie reopened in early September 2024. Those entering the building from the piazza entrance can therefore access the atrium via the central staircase, with all bridges also accessible again too.

If you have any questions or queries in relation to this work, please email the Estates and Campus Services Projects Team via ecs-projects@brookes.ac.uk