Controversy shrouded its very creation. Today we stand before Castle Mill. It is a graduate housing complex owned by the University of Oxford. Castle Mill is located north of Oxford railway station. It sits along Roger Dudman Way. This is just west of the railway tracks. It is also near the Oxford Down Carriage Sidings. The location was formerly Cripley Meadow. This lies south of Port Meadow. The initial buildings here were completed in 2004.
Castle Mill provides accommodation for various needs. Single people, couples, and families can reside here. Graduate students with children have priority. They get access to lower-cost housing. This helps with the over-stretched housing market in Central Oxford.
The complex offers several facilities. These include a common room and launderettes. There are also bicycle racks. Residents can enjoy an outside barbecue area. Caretakers live on site. They support the complex. The railway nearby does create a noise issue.
The Castle Mill Stream runs to the east. It is a branch of the River Thames. This stream gives Castle Mill its name. Views from Castle Mill include the railway lines to the East. You can also see allotments and Port Meadow to the West.
In 2010, Oxford City Council set limits on student housing. Oxford University and Oxford Brookes University each had a cap of 3,000 students in private rented housing. The Council wanted to control student numbers. They used planning permission as a tool. If a university exceeded its cap, the Council would block new buildings. This led the Universities to develop their own student accommodation. They partnered with commercial providers.
Since 2012, Oxford University developed the Castle Mill site. It covers 2.5 acres. The site lies north of the existing accommodation. It sits between Cripley Meadow Allotments and the railway tracks. This is near the southern end of Port Meadow. The goal was to meet the growing need for graduate housing.
The development became very controversial. The four to five-storey blocks overlook Port Meadow. This historic open area offers views of Oxford’s skyline. Many people worried about damage to these views. An online petition started. The “Save Port Meadow” campaign began in December 2012. The Oxford Preservation Trust raised concerns. Layla Moran MP, the Liberal Democrats, and the Green Party also objected. Even some Oxford University members were angry. One critic compared the development to a “skyscraper beside Stonehenge”.
In February 2013, negotiations began to reduce the building height. A protest took place at the Sheldonian Theatre. This is where the University’s formal assembly meets. Protesters included professors and TV historians. They warned that the buildings “blot out the unique view of Oxford’s Dreaming Spires from Port Meadow”. Author Philip Pullman also condemned the buildings.
Views of St Barnabas Church in Jericho were affected. An internal report noted that the building would obscure the church. The roofline would cut across the view.
In March 2013, it was revealed that the Council knew about the threat to views. The Head of Heritage reported “the harmful impact”. The University submitted revised plans. These reduced the height by 4 feet. Some felt this change had little effect.
In April 2013, the University removed the topmost apex of the roof. They avoided removing an entire storey. The University estimated that reducing the height would cost £10–20 million. Masked protesters attended a City Council meeting. They demanded action. The City Council warned the University of compulsory measures. Campaigners started a fund to oppose the development in court.
In May 2013, it emerged that pollution checks were missing. The University had not provided the necessary information before starting work.
In June 2013, Castle Mill was nominated for the Carbuncle Cup. This award recognizes the ugliest building in the UK.
In July 2013, an independent inquiry began. It examined the student blocks. It also looked at how the University obscured historic views. The level of consultation was questioned.
Two years later, the controversy continued. Academics still opposed the project. In February 2015, a motion to reduce the height was defeated. The Student Union argued it would harm graduate housing. The University decided to screen the flats with trees and cladding. This cost about £6 million.
As of 2020, changes were made. These included a less bright shade of paint. Some green walls were installed.
Castle Mill offers a variety of accommodation. There are single en suite rooms. Studios are available for singles and couples. Gatehouse flats provide more space. One-bed and two-bed flats are also available. The two-bed flats are priority for couples with children. Castle Mill continues to be a topic of discussion in Oxford. Its story reflects the tensions between development and heritage. The University and the city continue to grapple with its impact.