About the site
Where is the development site?
The parcel of land secured by Taylor Wimpey from Oaklands College lies to the north of the campus. The campus is recognised for its significant contribution to St Albans and the residential site has been identified by the emerging local plan as a suitable location for residential development due to it’s sustainable location, limited contribution to the purposes for including land in the Green Belt and the significant need for additional housing.
The Council have also recognised the significant benefits it’s development for housing will bring the College financially in support of their future vision for an enhanced educational offering.
Site location
Responding to the emerging Local Plan
Following considerable evidence appraising options for the delivery of the housing that is required for St Albans, the Council prepared and submitted their emerging Local Plan to the Secretary of State for Examination in Public. It is the Council’s intention that, subject to the adoption of the Local Plan, the site is allocated for residential development and removed from the Green Belt.
The site is proposed for allocation by the Council due to its sustainable location, limited contribution to the purposes of including land within the Green Belt, and in response to the significant need for further housing within the St Albans area. The Council have also recognised the significant benefit that the sale of the land, for development, will bring Oaklands College in the fulfilment of a vision for significantly improved educational facilities within the campus.
The Council’s emerging Local Plan is currently at Examination in Public and expected to be adopted by the Council in 2026.
The application site outline can be seen on the image shown here.
About the developer
Partnering with Taylor Wimpey
To fund this redevelopment, Oaklands has partnered with Taylor Wimpey, who will bring forward plans for new homes on part of the site. These homes align with St Albans’ local plan and will provide high quality housing while enabling vital investment in education.
This team operate exclusively in Hertfordshire and the North London Boroughs, with a proud history of delivering high quality sustainable new communities. Taylor Wimpey proudly works to deliver industry leading sustainable technologies within their developments and supports biodiversity integration through a wide array of design solutions. They represent the ideal partner to work alongside the College to support delivery of the new vision for the campus.
The planning application is supported by technical assessments that will include mitigation where required and enhancements where possible, to the benefit of the local environment and community.
Case study
Oaklands Grange
Oaklands College and Taylor Wimpey have a history of collaboration, bringing forward the adjacent site, Oaklands Grange to support previous significant investments into College facilities, securing it’s future. The new proposals represent the next stage of this collaboration, with the investment secured from the development of the additional land contributing significantly towards the future enhancement of College facilities, and therefore, it’s long-term future.
- In 2016, Oaklands College sold some College land to a development partner, Taylor Wimpey, with the aim of creating funding for College developments.
- In 2017 Taylor Wimpey gained permission to develop Oaklands Grange, to the north of the site.
- The site created 384 homes for local people, which included 35% affordable housing.
- It was because of this development that Oaklands College was able to fund the redevelopment of the College in recent years. This has included enhancements to existing buildings and 16,211m2 of new educational buildings, such as the student accommodation, sports pavilion, teaching blocks and the High Performance Centre. Approval was granted on the basis the significant educational benefits and much needed housing would outweigh the harm to the Green Belt.
