ADP achieves planning permission for Standingford House redevelopment

We are thrilled to have received planning permission for our redevelopment of Standingford House in Oxford. Oxford City Council is transforming an ageing and energy-inefficient commercially-let building on a tight urban site into an accessible and sustainable workspace set within generous and environmentally sensitive landscaping.

Located east of the city centre on Cave Street, the proposed development will take the existing building, which is at the end of its life and redevelop the site. The project will positively contribute to the area while improving the site’s sustainability and biodiversity and meeting the Council’s priority in enabling an inclusive economy.

Our design took a fabric-first approach following best practice guidance (LETI Commercial Offices Typology) and is targeting RIBA 2030 levels of performance benchmarks and a BREEAM Excellent rating. Apart from accessible parking, the focus is on sustainable transport, including secure sheltered bike storage, with a bike repair station, e-bike charging points and larger spaced stands for cargo and delivery bikes.

Given the project’s location on a very constrained city-centre site, the design was rigorously prepared through face-to-face and online consultation with the public. We developed the design further based on consultation feedback, addressing complex site limitations such as the project’s height in comparison to the rest of the Oxford skyline.

Due to the site’s complicated history, achieving planning permission at the first submission is a great achievement, and our team worked hard to provide maximum value for the Council. We look forward to seeing this site reinvigorated as a flexible and modern office building.