WEST END & OSNEY MEAD, OXFORD

Strategic Regeneration and Delivery Advice

Urban Delivery was appointed alongside Levitt Bernstein and Arup to prepare a Spatial Framework for the West End and Osney Mead areas of the city.

The commission sought to optimise the coordination between various sites, including planned improvements to Oxford Station. Opportunities for improved connectivity, particularly through enhanced walking and cycling, creating safe and accessible routes, and linking into the existing network.

Delivery advice sought to assess the leadership through the establishment of a Strategic Board, needed to coordinate and ensure communication between the various projects, and capture the improved connections through joined-up consideration. Access to and from Osney Mead from the city centre, traversing the railway lines and river, was highlighted as a particular challenge needing clear and resilient leadership both working with landowners and securing funding that would be required.

A coordinated approach to delivery was set up to secure the optimum conditions for change, and to:

·         secure additional funding required

·         coordinate and deliver investment and improvements wider than specific project areas

·         capture the benefit of new station investment

·         optimise connections between the significant and diverse project areas

·         ensure projects fit within the historic fabric of the city.

This approach helped set up the West End and Osney Mead to deliver long-term value by attracting and retaining more talent, wealth, and opportunity in Oxford, with lasting benefits for local communities, the companies and institutions that invest.

Advice included:

  Property market research and analysis

·         Review of planning policy and the formulation of land use proposals

·         Stakeholder workshops

·         Strategic delivery advice

·         Capturing value uplift and optimising value through enhanced connections