Northfield Hostel in Oxford has received planning approval. It was submitted as a hybrid application from two joint applicants: Oxford City Council and Oxford County Council.

This area, which formerly housed a residential hostel serving Northfield School, will be redeveloped to provide 61 homes on a constrained corner site adjacent to Oxford’s inner ring road. New homes, 87% of which will be affordable, will be designed with Passivhaus principles, using super-insulation, triple glazing, mechanical ventilation with heat recovery and external solar shading to prevent overheating. Roof-mounted PVs, electric vehicle charging points and improvements to the local cycle network also form part of the wider sustainability strategy.

The buildings will be carefully stepped and orientated to minimise tree loss on the heavily wooded site and provide a richly landscaped amenity space. The new buildings will use full height windows set within brick façades and a black zinc standing seam roof to echo the character of the nearby schools and light industrial buildings.

Many thanks to all the team, especially Eleni, Georgia, Mathilde, Paul McG, Simon L and Tim H!