Historic college’s student scheme set for nod

Plans by Oxford’s historic St Hilda’s College to redevelop part of its campus to provide student flats and enhance the entrance to its site look set to be approved. The application forms the first phase of a major expansion project to add further accommodation as well as conference and performance spaces.St Hilda’s College was founded in 1893 for women to continue their education.Under the plans, which were submitted to Oxford City Council in September 2017, the Milham Ford building, a porter’s lodge and a two-storey building on Cowley Place would be demolished to make way for a structure comprising 59 student beds, as well as a porter’s lodge, a common room, fellows’ accommodation and administrative offices.A new pavilion building would also be erected and the porch to the old hall building would be replaced.A planning statement prepared by JPPC said the plans “provide an opportunity to improve and mark the entrance to the college, to improve its riverside setting, to provide modern accommodation for students and for teaching and meetings”.The application has been recommended for approval ahead of an Oxford City Council planning committee meetingJPPC’s planning statement said the proposals are the first phase of a five-year plan that would add 120 student rooms to its site, as well as other facilities.It added: “The additional facilities will also be used out of term time to provide attractive conferencing, meeting and performance facilities, which will be essential financially to the College to sustain its educational activities, and will add to the attraction of Oxford as a venue.”