Student scheme set for nod at historic Oxford college

Plans by Oxford’s New College to demolish and revamp parts of its Savile Road site to quadruple the number of student beds there look set to get the go-ahead. The scheme also comprises new facilities for a historic preparatory school on the land.The Savile Road development currently comprises accommodation for New College undergraduates and the New College School, an independent preparatory school for boys aged four to 13.Under the plans, the structures earmarked for demolition are the 1922 Warham House, the 1935 extension of Savile House and the 1950s extension of the New College School.Of the 28 student bedrooms currently on the site, 26 will be demolished and two will be revamped. A new student accommodation building will be constructed, which will also feature a music hall and student area.Following the work, the Savile Road campus will comprise 102 student rooms spread over three buildings; Main Quad, New Warham House and Savile House Extension.Temporary accommodation will be installed to house an assembly hall and classrooms for New College School during construction work and a new three-storey extension will be created, containing classrooms, a dining hall and an assembly hall.The application is set to go before Oxford City Council’s West Area planning committee on 10 April 2018 with a recommendation for approval.Approval is subject to a public consultation on revised plans and the submission of a revised energy statement and air quality assessment.New College, along with New College School, was founded in 1379. The institution was created by William of Wykeham to educate clergy in a bid to replace those who had fallen victim to the Black Death.