Castle Mill, phase 2

Oxford University

Graduate student accommodation (Frankham Consultancy Group, 2013), the second of two phases, including some flats for families.

Phase 1 of this development (Oxford Architects, 2004), in a contemporary style and clad in red brick, seems to have been accepted on this railway sidings site. But the much larger Phase 2, in white render with some mono pitch roofs, giving what the architects call ‘a strong, clean lined, contemporary feel’, split the university and the community. Critics have claimed that it interrupts the view from the historic public open space of Port Meadow to the spires of Oxford city centre beyond. In early 2015 a passionate campaign to reduce the height of the tallest, five storey, blocks was defeated in a vote of the University’s Congregation. The University has proposed a lower cost mitigation of the visual impact of the scheme (on site 2019).

Roger Dudman Way, Oxford, OX1 1AE