An Oxford University college has announced plans to make better use of an historic forecourt in front of its main building.

St John's College in St Giles features a Grade II listed walled forecourt at the front.

Now it has put submitted a planning application to the city council for a series of improvements.

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The college is seeking alterations and conservation works to the walled forecourt to provide new public amenity space as well as the formation of two pathways with seating along the perimeter and two access ramps.

The installation of a metal archway and metal gates on the west forecourt is also being proposed, together with new lighting and lit bollards along the existing footpath, lit kerbs along the new pathways, and lighting to the existing Porters Lodge stone archway.

(Image: Oxford Mail) The wall is the only remaining example of an enclosed forecourt on St Giles and was Grade II listed in 1968.

The college has consulted Historic England about the proposals.

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Historic England said in a report: "The proposals seek to make the forecourt a more inviting and accessible space, with a central meandering path bordered by wildflower planting on both sides.

"Overall, we consider the proposal to be an excellent opportunity to revitalise this rare space within the Oxford landscape."

The plans following a £10m refurbishment at the college which started in 2022.

Work started at the college to refurbish its 16th Century Old Library and 17th century Laudian Library.

A total of 28 columns in the college's Canterbury Quadrangle were also replaced after they began to fail.

The columns were one of the few examples of the high baroque architectural style left in the UK and were originally made from locally mined Bletchingdon marble.

The quarry from which it was taken, about eight miles north of Oxford, has long since closed down.

(Image: Google Maps) Stonemasonry experts and architects recommended a carboniferous limestone, Swaledale fossil, as the replacement. Planning permission was approved for its use.

The work was carried out by Oxford-based construction firm Beard and was expected to be completed early last year.

Earlier this year the college consulted Vale of White Horse District Council about a new forestry building at Bagley Wood in Oxford Road in Kennington.

It asked the council if prior approval was needed to build at the site in the same position as a "dilapidated building" which it hoped to demolish.

A fire caused by a barbecue destroyed part of the original forestry building in 2020.

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About the author 

Andy is the Trade and Tourism reporter for the Oxford Mail and you can sign up to his newsletters for free here. 

He joined the team more than 20 years ago and he covers community news across Oxfordshire.

His Trade and Tourism newsletter is released every Saturday morning. 

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