Oxford C e n t r a l W e s t Summary of workshop findings on development around Oxford Station Said Business School and Nuffield College, March 16th 2016 Oxford Futures 2 Oxford Futures This report of a workshop held at the Said Business School and Nuffield College on March 16th sets out the main conclusions and proposals, along with supporting information, to include some cases. The event was organised by Oxford Civic Society (OCS) and the Academy of Urbanism (AoU) and brought together local stakeholders with outside experts, over fifty in all (see list of participants). The report will be sent to participants for their 1. Why is a fresh vision needed for the area, responses to the event, and followed up by fur- and is the time ripe for major change? ther discussions. We encourage you to comment on the Commonplace Oxford Central web site. 2. What characterises a successful transport The workshop, which all found positive and hub? enjoyable, addressed five key issues for the fu- ture of the area known provisionally as Oxford 3. How could the wider area be developed? Central West: 4. How can transport in Oxford be trans- formed? 5. Who will pay and how can the vision be delivered? Acknowledgements: We would like to thank Grosvenor Estates, Savills’, and Oxford Civic Society, who provided fund- ing, Nuffield College and the Said Business School, who provided premises and refreshments, the Academy of Urbanism, who provided outside experts, Dave Collins of Jolt Media for the aerial photography, and all the other individuals who contributed substantially to the successful organisation of this event. Published by URBED (Urbanism, Environment, Design) 01612005500 [email protected] AprilMay 2016 2016 The report was compiled by Nicholas Falk and designed by Benjamin Palle. Drawings from Vicky Payne and Lucy Sykes. 1 Oxford Futures Contents Setting the scene 3 1. Setting the scene 4 2. The need for a shared vision 6 2a. Sir Hugo Brunner: Oxford Civic Society President 6 2b. Peter Thompson: Oxford Civic Society Chairman 7 2c. Tony Turton: Oxford Civic Society Communication Group 8 2d. David Edwards: Director of Development at Oxford City Council 10 2e. Henk Bouwman: Director, The Academy of Urbanism 12 3. Workshop feedback 14 3a Creating a new heart for the city: Biljana Savic: Academy of Urbanism 14 3b An integrated transport system: Philip Harcourt: Academy of Urbanism 18 3c Delivering (and paying for) the vision: Patrick Eve: Savills’ Oxford 21 4. Conclusions 24 5. List of participants 25 2 Oxford Futures 1. Setting the scene hile most people agree on how A follow-up symposium at Wolfson College in bad Oxford Station and sur- June 2015 jointly organised by OCS with the rounding areas are, and some Oxford Strategic Partnership and the Oxford- W can see the wasted opportuni- shire Local Enterprise Partnership emphasised ties, few know how to get somewhere better the need for Central Oxfordshire to ‘get its act from where we are now! At a workshop in together’ or miss out on investment and lose its March organised jointly by Oxford Civic Society position as a world-leading university city. Much (OCS) and the Academy of Urbanism (AoU) a work has been done since then in negotiating a wide range of stakeholders showed an enthusi- City Deal with the government and on resolving asm to work together and to think differently, land ownership issues, so that a new vision is which included drawing inspiration from other both needed and has become possible. Specula- comparable places on the Continent as well as in tive work has also been done on addressing the the UK. There has been no shortage of stud- regional and local transport problems, including ies in the past, including different proposals for the idea of trams for Oxford. what a new station might look like, but until now no-one has been able to look at the wider The timely ‘Vision for Oxford Central-West’ area because ownership was so fragmented and event on March 16th 2016 showed that the old there was little collaboration. Parish of St Thomas offers space to enlarge the city centre to service a greater Oxford. If it Previous events organised by OCS under the is developed imaginatively it can help provide banner of Oxford Futures have set out an ambi- affordable housing, generate better jobs, solve tion for how Oxford might grow sustainably in transport problems, help reduce pollution and ways which could address some of its problems, improve the quality of life for all. This will not like a chronic shortage of affordable housing be achieved without many years of effort. and the worst traffic congestion in the South East. The first report (Oxford Futures: Achiev- The redevelopment of the 200 acres (80 hec- ing Smarter Growth in Central Oxfordshire; tares) around Oxford Station could therefore be 2014) was inspired by the examples of similar the catalyst for a new phase of planned growth cities such as Cambridge and Freiburg, and by similar to the extensions to North Oxford when visits to new Dutch settlements. That report set dons were allowed to marry in the 19th century. the context for a new spatial growth plan and It could be a crucial part of resolving the city’s for engaging the public. It made suggestions for traffic problems. It seems to the organisers that training and for evaluating options for develop- a Scenario for ‘smarter growth’ could involve the ment and transport in terms of their social, following stages. environmental and economic impacts. 3 Oxford Futures 1. Shaping the vision 2. Resolving the strategic issues The report of the March workshop must be shared and the ideas in it de- Many tricky issues need to be faced bated to establish what level of support and options assessed before conclu- exists, where there is common ground, sions are reached. The current lack of and where further work is needed. The an agreed plan for the wide area is also aim should be to produce a list of early an opportunity as few cities have such actions or pilot projects. For example a chance. Great skill will be needed in the idea was floated of a space in the promoting imaginative solutions and city – perhaps a shop or a café - where avoiding getting blocked by bureaucratic plans could be displayed. It will be im- inertia and fear of the unknown. These portant to engage the public: those who issues include: use the station, those who live and work locally, those who have businesses that a. The transport strategy for the west- might be affected. The Commonplace ern entry into Oxford’s city centre, web site could be used to get reactions including possible new modes (a to different options. Metro?), and improved accessibility for the whole study area; b. The location of the new Oxford Central station, and how it should be linked to buses, taxis and bikes; c. The amount of space needed now and in the future, including the pos- sibility of relocating the ice-rink; d. The planning briefs which are needed, e.g. the kinds of homes needed and where a start could be made; spaces to promote innovation and support new enterprise; spaces for leisure. 4 Oxford Futures 3. Creating the delivery 4. Tapping the resources 5. Celebrating success mechanisms As well as land, major commitments of Changing the area’s image and maintain- Huge sums of money and considerable capital and people will be needed over ing support over the period of four or risks are involved. In the current invest- the next twenty or more years before five governments will depend not just ment climate it will be vital to create the area has found a stable new role. on luck but also on promoting a posi- as much certainty as possible. Issues Issues include: tive image. This means creating oppor- include: tunities for people to enjoy themselves. a. How much are the different ele- Issues include: a. How can the landowners (and their ments going to cost and how much advisors) best work together? cross-subsidy is going to be viable? a. What temporary or pop-up uses are feasible and desirable? b. How should the different communi- b. Where will the pump-priming fund- ties be engaged? ing come from for studies, reloca- b. Can empty spaces be used creatively tion, ground works, etc? e.g. for festivals, or allotments? c. Can ‘master developers’ be found for major sites, and is some other c. What level of capital could be raised c. How can ‘big ideas’ be trialled and form of public/private partnership through some form of bond along- tested e.g. dedicated transit routes, (perhaps similar to a New Town side potential grants? or water buses. Development Corporation) needed to attract public investment? d. How might the stages of devel- d. What kinds of outcomes are pos- opment be phased to produce a sible and likely, and what timescale d. How can a process of long-term positive cash flow and minimise will this cover? urban change be managed and who disruption? The public sector will should take the lead? need to take a leading role in creat- The next steps are to discuss the work- ing the framework, as there are few shop’s conclusions with the stakehold- developers who can tackle a project ers and then with a wider set of com- of this scale. munities so that Oxford moves forward together and the current momentum is e. What form of public/private part- not lost. nership will be appropriate and how can the main elements in the new Henk Bouwman, Nicholas Falk and transport hub best be procured?’ Peter Thompson 5 Oxford Futures 2.