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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 in 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 (June 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:

  • progress for underfloor services on levels one and two of the teaching building

  • work is well underway on mechanical and electrical installations in the workshop building.

Upcoming activities highlighted in the latest Willmott Dixon update include:

  • work on the teaching building's atrium areas to enable completion of flooring in the central communal zones
  • installation of all of the glazing in the workshop building giving full weather tight status.

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 (May 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 will provide an increased number of high-quality rooms within the University’s estate. This will help 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 is being 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 will ensure that any disruption is kept to a minimum while work is undertaken. 

Ongoing work

The first new building as part of the redevelopment of Clive Booth Student Village, providing high-quality living and social spaces close to Headington Campus, opened its doors to new residents in January 2024. The Elm building is providing 98 rooms for students this semester, with further rooms due to be available on the site in time for the 2024-25 academic year.

Latest progress and upcoming work as part of the redevelopment of Clive Booth Student Village is detailed below.

Fir Building (previously named Building F)

  • Brickwork is now complete.

  • Internally, all the partition walls are complete.

  • Plumbing and Electrical works are now installed up to level four with commissioning starting in May.

Damson Building (previously named Building D)

  • Partition walls are finished and contractors are finishing off installing ceilings on level five.
  • All kitchens are installed throughout and the furniture is fitted up to level four.
  • The plumbers and electricians are completing finishing works on levels three, four and five.

Cherry Building (previously named Building C)

  • While Cherry won’t be opening ahead of the new academic year like Fir and Damson, brickwork is nearing completion and there is half a floor to finish.
  • The roof has been tested for leaks.
  • Insulation due to be completed by early May.

Further detail 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:

Find out more about Clive Booth Student Village in person

Information and images are viewable on hoardings (pictured right) which can be found near the Cuckoo Lane entrance to Clive Booth Student Village site.

CBSV-hoarding-with-information-on-the-redevelopment

Delay to replacement of Headington Campus glass roof panels (Updated 28 June 2024)

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). The use of cranes and the erection of internal scaffolding within JHBB will require some short-term changes to access arrangements.

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

Work on the JHBB library glass panels was due to take place between Friday 5 and Monday 8 July (with internal scaffolding erected in the JHBB near to the entrance of the library from Monday 1 July). This work has now been postponed and will be rescheduled for a future date.

Planning for both the JHHB Abercrombie buildings' glass panel replacement work will continue to consider suitable dates, potentially later in summer 2024. Further information will be added to this page once decisions have been taken.

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

Last opportunity to view Wheatley Campus’ engraved bricks (June 2024 update)

As the University continues to move all remaining activity from the Wheatley Campus as part of its Oxford Campus Vision, thank you to everyone who took the opportunity for a final viewing of the engraved bricks on the site.

Engraved bricks were added to the campus as part of the introduction of the Simon Williams Building, which officially opened in 2007.

It will not be possible to preserve or move the bricks once the University has moved all remaining activity from the site ahead of the 2024-25 academic year. 

We are therefore pleased that alumni, members of the local community and friends of the University took the chance in the last academic year to make a final trip to the Wheatley Campus before all remaining Oxford Brookes activity moves from the site.