Managing the estate
How we take responsibility for and manage our estate.
Conservation
We are responsible for the repair and upkeep of some of the finest buildings in Oxford, including the Radcliffe Camera, Sheldonian Theatre and Old Bodleian Library.
We take our responsibility to managing so much of the city’s magnificent historical centre very seriously. We are committed to meeting it in full through good stewardship of the buildings in our care. All our historical buildings receive regular inspections and sensitive maintenance and restoration work when this is needed.
Whether we are repairing decayed stonework on the grotesques of the Bodleian’s Schools Quadrangle, restoring the Museum of Natural History’s geometric flooring to its former glory or replacing the lead statues on the roof of the Clarendon Building, we always strive to ensure that Oxford’s priceless architectural heritage is handed down to the next generation in a better condition than we received it.
Listed buildings
We own and manage 67 listed buildings including the three famous Grade I listed ones mentioned above. Other Grade I buildings include our museums: the Ashmolean Museum, the Museum of Natural History, the Pitt Rivers Museum and the Museum of the History of Science.
Around 20% of the total University estate is listed, as well as many of our college buildings – these are managed by the colleges themselves rather than by the central University.
Disability access
Estates Services works closely with our Equality and Diversity Unit and with Student Welfare and Support Services to ensure that our buildings accommodate disabled access needs, and adjustments are made to existing buildings where necessary.
Throughout all refurbishment and construction projects we meet the architects to ensure that we exceed building regulations on disabled access.
Our online access guide provides comprehensive and searchable information about the collegiate University’s buildings departments, gardens, galleries and museums, including floor plans and photos. For each building there is a photo of the entrance and information about the availability of disabled parking spaces, manual/powered door entry, lifts, hearing support systems, and accessible toilets.
There is also an online interactive map featuring information about the location of all University buildings and departments across the city, including photos and opening times. Our departments are often large and housed in several different buildings, but the map allows you to click on a department’s name and all related buildings will be highlighted.
Conservation Management Plans
Conservation Management Plans are currently in place for many of our listed buildings. These draw together information from archives, planning records, books, and websites, providing an invaluable resource for building managers, architects and planners.
They also assist in the preparation of Heritage Impact Assessments for any planning applications for work on listed buildings which are submitted.
The Conservation Management Plans are publicly accessible documents which provide fascinating historical information for people who use and visit the buildings.
The following principles guide our conservation work:
Any repairs or alterations will be informed by an understanding of the significance of the heritage asset.
Any alterations must be sympathetic to a building’s historical and artistic significance and respect its character and that of the surrounding area.
Wherever possible, we work to improve accessibility across the estate so our facilities can be used by as many people as possible, regardless of disability.
Heritage assets and their original architectural features should be conserved and kept in use wherever possible, although change may be necessary to keep the building safe and usable.
Any alterations should incorporate low- and zero-carbon technologies where feasible.
You can access some of our Conservation Management Plans using the links below. More of these will be added over time; if you are interested in a particular building that is not listed below, please contact the Heritage & Building Maintenance team on [email protected].