Corpus Christi College has given the
go ahead for the creation of 45 new
student rooms in a former conference centre on Park End Street. ‘Cantay House’ will be converted into a series of 5 bedroom flat units for both
undergraduates and graduate students. The build will be completed
by shared kitchen and sitting room
areas, landscaped garden areas, covered cycle storage and high levels of
security for occupants.
Bursar John Harrison commented,
“The design has been arrived at after consultation with SCR and MCR
members. The project offers a significant opportunity to improve our
accommodation stock by investing
in an energy efficient and inherently
sustainable build that is expected to
incorporate CHP generation and very
high levels of sound and energy insulation. Once complete, this project
will create the space needed to continue the process of improvement
across the remainder of our accommodation.”
The site’s recent history had been
controversial. Cantay Investments,
the original owners of the Cantay
House property, had wanted to convert the building into nine residential flats. However, the change
of plans came about over
summer when Oxford City
Council rejected them amid
claims that the company was
keeping the number of flats
low to avoid contribution
towards a scheme of
affordable housing.
Tony Nolan, of Cantay Investments,
said, “We didn’t appeal the decision
because on balance we didn’t want to
hang around and wait. When we designed the scheme we felt we wanted
to develop high-quality housing in
the city centre. We submitted a viability report suggesting the contribution could not be afforded so we
declined to make an offer.”
Cantay Investments had to deal
with issues of social housing. Policy
dictates that constructions involving
10 or more properties have to ensure
that half of the available units are
designated as social housing. Corpus
Christi as student accommodation is
exempt from these regulations and
permission was granted.
Pete Johnstone, a second year
medic, commented, “It is the perfect location for the station and the
clubs. I hope they’re not going to give
it to the graduates.” Rosie Oxbury,
another Corpus student, said, “We
don’t need housing for another 45
people. This seems like a way for college to sell off the
small student
houses.
Corpus Christi College has given the go ahead for the creation of 45 new student rooms in a former conference centre on Park End Street.
‘Cantay House’ will be converted into a series of 5 bedroom flat units for both undergraduates and graduate students. The build will be completed by shared kitchen and sitting room areas, landscaped garden areas, covered cycle storage and high levels of security for occupants.
Bursar John Harrison commented, “The design has been arrived at after consultation with SCR and MCR members. The project offers a significant opportunity to improve our accommodation stock by investing in an energy efficient and inherently sustainable build that is expected to incorporate CHP generation and very high levels of sound and energy insulation. Once complete, this project will create the space needed to continue the process of improvement across the remainder of our accommodation.”
The site’s recent history had been controversial. Cantay Investments, the original owners of the Cantay House property, had wanted to convert the building into nine residential flats. However, the change of plans came about over summer when Oxford City Council rejected them amid claims that the company was keeping the number of flats low to avoid contribution towards a scheme of affordable housing.
Tony Nolan, of Cantay Investments, said, “We didn’t appeal the decision because on balance we didn’t want to hang around and wait. When we designed the scheme we felt we wanted to develop high-quality housing in the city centre. We submitted a viability report suggesting the contribution could not be afforded so we declined to make an offer.”
Cantay Investments had to deal with issues of social housing. Policy dictates that constructions involving 10 or more properties have to ensure that half of the available units are designated as social housing. Corpus Christi as student accommodation is exempt from these regulations and permission was granted.Pete Johnstone, a second year medic, commented, “It is the perfect location for the station and the clubs. I hope they’re not going to give it to the graduates.” Rosie Oxbury, another Corpus student, said, “We don’t need housing for another 45 people. This seems like a way for college to sell off the small student houses.
