Univ North is the College’s most ambitious development project for several centuries. The project encompasses the existing Staverton Road site as well as the recently acquired and adjacent Fairfield site and nearby College-owned properties. To gather views and suggestions from members of the College community the Univ North Working Party was convened, meeting for the first time on 24 February 2017.

The Working Party has seven stated aims. It looks to explore the opportunity to establish a new Univ academic community that imaginatively furthers the educational objectives of the College and develop the academic and social facilities need for supporting a new academic community. It will ensure that planning constraints are taken into account regarding the College’s development and take account of the importance of good communal relations, in particular with the Fairfield residential home, in drawing up the plans. The Working Party is also responsible for looking at the short-term and long-term consequences of the Univ North development, producing an indicative masterplan and assessing the architect’s plans. Finally, the Working Party feeds back and makes recommendations about the development of Univ North to the College’s Governing Body and to its supporting committees.

• Dr Andrew Bell (1993, History), Senior Tutor advising student welfare and living. His research focuses on the history of Britain and northern Europe between c.300 and c.1200.
• Gareth Capner, friend of College, donor and successful property builder and investor in Oxfordshire. He worked at Barton Willmore architects for nearly thirty years, retiring as Senior Partner in 2008.
• Mark Charter, friend of College, works in residential and country property. He is Senior Partner and Head of Estate Management at Carter Jonas.
• Professor Bill Child, Tutorial Fellow in Philosophy, chairs Audit Committee and sits on the Finance Committee. He has taught at Univ since 1989 and specialises in the philosophy of mind and Wittgenstein.
• Baroness Valerie Amos is The Master of University College. She was previously Director of SOAS University of London, a politician and senior United Nations official.
• John Crompton (1981, PPE), is the Chair of University College Development Board. He has spent over 30 years in banking and finance, including at Morgan Stanley, UKFI and HM Treasury.
• Revd Dr Andrew Gregory, Chaplain and Welfare Fellow, is advising on student welfare and living. He also teaches New Testament papers in the Faculty of Theology and Religion.
• Professor Peter Jezzard, Vice Master, is a Professorial Fellow and Herbert Dunhill Professor of Neuroimaging in the Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences at the John Radcliffe Hospital.
• Caroline Marriage (1991, English), Old Member, currently greatly assisting with the design and implementation of the nursery.. She worked at OUP and Hodder Headline before leaving to raise her children. Caroline was interviewed for the spring issue of The Martlet. She discussed the importance of landscaping to the Univ North development on a recent visit.
• Dr Andrew Grant (1977, Chemistry), Estates Bursar. He worked at BP for over three decades, ending his time there as Managing Director. Frank Marshall, the former Estates Bursar, temporarily took the seat
• Professor Tamsin Mather is Supernumerary Fellow in Earth Sciences and teaches chemistry and volcanology to undergraduates. She has won many prizes including the Rosalind Franklin Award, the Philip Leverhulme prize, and UNESCO/L’Oréal UK & Ireland Women in Science.
• Calum Miller (1996, PPE), CEO and Associate Dean of Administration at the Blavatnik School of Government, was responsible for managing construction of the Blavatnik School’s new building. Calum is also the Co-Director of Research on Improving Systems of Education (RISE).
• Dr Ian Owen (1971, Physics) is an insurance specialist and Chairman of AllClear Travel Insurance. He was formerly the Chairman of Partnership Assurance, A-Plan and Guardian Financial Services.
• Gordon Cox is the Director of Development and Fellow. He was formerly Head of Development for Humanities at the University of Oxford. His seat was previously held by William Roth, the former Director of Development.
• Angela Unsworth, MBE, is the Domestic Bursar and manages the state and accommodation. She was previously a Squadron Leader in the RAF.
• Professor John Wheater is Senior Research Fellow in Physics, Development Fellow and Finance Fellow. He was Head of the Department of Physics , and oversaw the construction of the Beecroft Building, completed in 2018.

Attendees:

• Louise Wright, Executive PA to the Master, has worked at Univ since 2016. She previously worked at the University of Oxford and Oxford City Council.

Níall McLaughlin Architects have done many student accommodation projects across Oxford and Cambridge. If you would like to learn more about their approach, we interviewed Níall McLaughlin on-site last October. You can find out more about their education portfolio on their website.

Bidwells have run many construction projects in Oxford, including developments for Balliol College, Mansfield College and Keble College. Barton Willmore is the UK’s leading independent planning and design consultancy. They have done many projects across Oxford and Cambridge, including Univ’s new Boathouse.

The Working Party is serviced by The Master’s Office and meetings are scheduled as required by the effective completion of its objectives.

Published: 18 June 2020

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