St Peter’s College has submitted additional proposals to Oxford City Council regarding the redevelopment of a second city centre property for residential use by students, shortly after filing a separate application for a different site.
The college has lodged plans to expand its existing accommodation block located at 12 Paradise Street, with the aim of providing additional bedroom spaces for its student population.
The submission forms part of a broader strategy by the institution to boost its available housing capacity for both undergraduate and postgraduate students, having detected a deficiency of 44 bedrooms during the current academic year.
Earlier this month, the college submitted separate proposals for the conversion of 11 New Road, which would involve incorporating the premises currently occupied by a nail bar into the college estate and fitting it out as student accommodation.
The second level of the Paradise Street property is already under lease to the college and functions as a six-bedroom house in multiple occupation.
Should permission be granted, renovations would be carried out and additional floors of bedrooms constructed above, bringing the total capacity to 24 rooms.
For the 12 Paradise Street location, the college is now seeking approval to extend the premises, which would result in 14 further bedrooms being made available.
The proposed development would involve construction solely at the rear of the structure, ensuring that sightlines toward the surrounding heritage assets, notably the surviving sections of Oxford Castle Prison and St George’s Tower, would remain largely unaffected.
A single-storey structure, termed a lightweight timber garden building in planning documents, would be positioned alongside the historic walls amid a cluster of silver birch trees.
This facility would accommodate a communal lounge and shared cooking areas for residents, complemented by external wooden decking and a covered pergola.
Both planning submissions from St Peter’s College await determination by Oxford City Council.